Join Us for the Exciting Kickoff of the Rural Teacher Corps at Ohio University Eastern Campus!

On September 3, a special event took place in St. Clairsville, Ohio. The Rural Teacher Corps kicked off the school year at Ohio University’s Eastern campus. Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, the Executive Director of Rural Schools Collaborative, joined forces with the Patton College School of Education and Building Bridges to Careers.

These organizations have a strong record of championing rural education across Ohio. Their partnership is now enhancing the Rural Schools Collaborative’s Ohio Regional Hub.

The Rural Teacher Corps at OU Eastern is a promising program. It supports eight pre-service teachers eager to educate in rural areas. These students will undergo training tailored for rural teaching. They’ll learn how to incorporate local resources and community strengths into their classrooms.

The learning experience includes field trips that delve into local natural resources and history. Students will create personal teaching mottos and engage in storytelling workshops. They’ll connect both in person and online throughout the year.

This initiative emerged in 2023 when Ohio University received one of five Catalyst Initiative Grants from Rural Schools Collaborative. These $25,000 grants aim to tackle teacher shortages in rural areas by helping institutions establish adaptive Rural Teacher Corps programs.

By collaborating with other Rural Teacher Corps programs, OU is enhancing its model. The Rural Teacher Fellowship links new rural educators with experienced mentors, providing professional development and innovative teaching strategies in partnership with Building Bridges to Careers.

Recently, the program gained support from The Sugarbush Foundation, fostering growth and capacity-building through the Community of Learners Project offered by Rural Schools Collaborative.

This initiative comes at a crucial time. Studies show that rural areas face significant teacher shortages. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 60% of rural school districts struggle to find qualified teachers. Programs like the Rural Teacher Corps are vital in addressing these gaps.

Special thanks are owed to Jacqueline Yahn from Ohio University Eastern and Kristi Leonard-Webber from Building Bridges to Careers for making this kickoff event a success. For more information, check out the details on the Ohio Regional Hub announcement.

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Local News,Rural Teacher Corps kickoff celebration held at Ohio University Eastern Campus