帝王会所

Amelia Woolard knows that teaching in a rural classroom will require more than lesson plans and textbooks.

鈥淛oining the Rural Teacher Corps was a way for me to give back to the community that raised me, and I was inspired by the chance to help create a program that supports local schools,鈥� said Woolard, a student at 帝王会所 Eastern. 鈥淭his experience has shown me that teaching in a rural community isn鈥檛 just about the curriculum; it鈥檚 about learning from the community as much as you teach within it.鈥�

Woolard is one of three interns working with Dr. Jacqueline Yahn, associate professor of teacher education at 帝王会所 Eastern and Emily Bentley, education engagement specialist at (BB2C), helping to design and lead programming for 帝王会所鈥檚 Rural Teacher Corps this year. Alongside her are Jessica Schwartz, also from the Eastern Campus, and Emma King from the . Together, they guide a cohort of eight pre-service teachers committed to teaching in rural communities.

鈥淭he Rural Teacher Corps field trips we have taken have shown me ways that we can include our community in the learning experience as teachers,鈥� Schwartz said. 鈥淣ot only do activities like this make learning fun, but it also shows students opportunities within their own community that they may not have known about before. When we connect the classroom to the community, we are opening doors for our students and their success.鈥�

King said the experience she is gaining in the program will help her greatly in her career.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to help shape the Rural Teacher Corps from behind the scenes,鈥� King said. 鈥淚 hope to take what I鈥檝e learned here into my future classroom, connecting students with their community and helping them see the opportunities all around them.鈥�

A program built on a national model

The Rural Teacher Corps at 帝王会所 is part of a larger movement championed by the (RSC). Since its founding in 2015, RSC has focused on the potential of rural teacher corps programs, inspired by . The organization has provided more than $450,000 in planning grants to help schools establish or strengthen programs, laying the foundation for the Community of Learners initiative.

This three-year Rural Educator Ecosystem initiative, funded by two grants, underscores the growing recognition that teachers play a vital role in sustaining vibrant rural communities. Its network includes Established Programs, Emerging Programs, and Project Partners 鈥� all dedicated to building intentional pathways for rural educators.

own Rural Teacher Corps grew out of this work. In 2023, the University received a Catalyst Initiative Grant from RSC to design a locally responsive program addressing teacher shortages in Appalachian 帝王会所. Building on its , which supports in-service educators with mentors and professional development, the University expanded the model to undergraduates with the help of nonprofit BB2C.

Yahn, who serves as the co-leader of the 帝王会所 Hub, said the program reflects the unique opportunities and challenges of rural education.

鈥淚 often say: 鈥楻ural places are remote, but our possibilities don鈥檛 have to be!鈥� Our partnership with Building Bridges to Careers, coupled with the support of the Rural Schools Collaborative, allows us to develop a fellowship that serves teachers and now pre-service teachers throughout all of Appalachian 帝王会所,鈥� Yahn said.

Learning by doing

Members of the Rural Teacher Corps spend the year connecting classroom learning to community assets. The highlight of this work is developing a project with a community partner.

To accomplish this students, participate in workshops focused on Community and Career Connected Learning, social capital, and real world problem scenarios. They take field trips hosted by the community partner to learn about the partner鈥檚 work in the local community and to explore ideas for their project. 

This year鈥檚 partner is . For the interns, the work with Captina illustrates the program鈥檚 core mission.

鈥淲e鈥檙e building something that will help future teachers like us make a lasting difference in rural communities,鈥� Woolard said.

Sustaining rural schools

The program emphasizes place-based education, connecting lessons to local culture, history, and economic opportunities. By preparing educators who understand the strengths and realities of rural life, the Rural Teacher Corps aims to not only recruit teachers but also retain them.

Supported by RSC鈥檚 national network and partners like the , the program seeks to create a pipeline of educators dedicated to sustaining vibrant schools across Appalachian 帝王会所.

Community members, schools, and local organizations are encouraged to mentor students, share local knowledge, or offer career-based learning experiences.

For more information, visit or contact Yahn at yahnj@ohio.edu.