Join Melissa as she interviews, Andy Wannemacher, the superintendent of the Aguila Elementary School District, a small rural district in west-central Arizona. Andy shares his journey from a business background to becoming an educator and superintendent in a rural community. He discusses the challenges of rural education, including poverty, English language learners, teacher recruitment, school safety, and limited resources. Andy highlights the importance of building a positive school culture, character education, and using local community assets to enhance educational outcomes. He also emphasizes the advantages of rural education, such as close-knit communities, personalized connections with students and families, and the ability to problem-solve face-to-face. Despite the challenges, Andy's passion for rural education shines through as he reflects on the successes of his school and the joy of watching students grow and thrive.

Join Melissa as she interviews, Sean Rickert, incoming president of the Arizona Rural Schools Association, who discusses his goals and priorities for supporting and advocating for rural education in Arizona over the next few years. He emphasizes the importance of bringing rural education leaders together through conferences, roundtables, and other events to network, share resources and solutions, and amplify the voices and needs of rural schools. Rickert notes the persistent challenges of teacher recruitment and retention in rural areas and predicts an evolution in how education is delivered, with more personalized and technology-enabled approaches. His overarching aim is to listen to rural districts to understand their diverse needs and help them access the resources and relationships to provide quality education for rural students.

Melissa and Ty interview education professors Dr. Sara Hartman and Dr. Bob Klein about their book "The Middle of Somewhere," highlighting innovative rural partnerships improving access and opportunity. They share how their passion for rural spaces motivated the book to address challenges like teacher shortages and limited funding. Key to successful partnerships are champions, mutual benefits, and sustainability. The book's sections on access, advocacy and equity showcase major rural issues. Sara and Bob discuss policy decisions often overlooking rural contexts, as the book informs more equitable advocacy. Envisioning an exciting future for increasingly diverse rural schools, they stress valuing place when preparing students. Sarah and Bob urge nurturing committed cross-sector partnerships to utilize rural connectivity and enduring, essential rural spaces. Overall the book conveys rural youth and communities as "somewhere" despite prevailing negative stereotypes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, hosts Melissa and Ty interview Allison Mitkowski, the 2023 Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year who teaches English, economics, and government at Williams High School. Allison discusses the tight-knit rural community and deep connections with students and families. She highlights the logistical challenges of rural schools, like lack of housing and internet access. Allison wears many hats, teaching several subjects and sponsoring extracurriculars focused on inclusion. She shares rewarding experiences reaching students, from playing chess with a student she first bonded with while delivering homework during COVID, to establishing an engaging mock trial program with the courts. Allison advocates for rural teacher retention and recruitment. She encourages rural teaching for those who love deep community ties and making an impact through relationships. Though Allison didn't intend to become a teacher originally, she finds rural education profoundly meaningful. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, host Melissa interviews Josie McClain, a 2nd-grade teacher at Paloma Elementary School District in Arizona. Josie discusses her journey from Michigan to teaching in a rural Arizona community. She highlights the tight-knit, family atmosphere and small class sizes as advantages of rural schools. Josie wears many hats as a teacher, including integrating art and music. She faces challenges like a lack of internet access for students. Josie values building relationships with students and focuses on social-emotional learning. She is working towards National Board Certification. Josie encourages teachers to consider rural settings for autonomy, support from administrators, and the ability to have an impact. She didn't initially plan on rural teaching but has found it rewarding. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, hosts Melissa and Ty interview Alyssa Cassels, the 2023 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Alyssa talks about her journey to becoming a rural band teacher in the small town where she grew up. She highlights some of the unique challenges of rural education, like long bus commutes for students, wearing many hats as a teacher, and lack of access to resources. However, Alyssa focuses on the positives of rural teaching, especially the close-knit relationships between teachers, students, and the whole community. Her favorite moments are when students show how invested they are in her success. Alyssa encourages teachers to consider rural positions for fulfilling experiences. She believes the advantages of rural teaching outweigh any disadvantages. The hosts emphasize the need for more support and opportunities in rural areas. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

Join Melissa and Ty as they speak with Kate Peake, a middle school English teacher at Patagonia School in rural Arizona. Kate shares her journey into education through Teach for America, which led her to teach in urban St. Louis before following her husband's career took her to rural Patagonia. Kate discusses the tight-knit community and natural landscapes that make teaching rural special, like getting to collaborate with local nonprofits and take students on field trips. She also talks about challenges like limited access to mental health services and transportation. Overall, Kate emphasizes the relationships formed through small class sizes and seeing students for multiple years in a rural setting allows impactful personalized learning. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

Join Melissa and Ty as they speak with Karen Estridge, a 7th grade English teacher at Holbrook Junior High School in rural Arizona. Karen shares her journey into education, from knowing she wanted to be a teacher since childhood to moving from Ohio to Arizona. She discusses the tight-knit community and cultural diversity that drew her to rural schools. Karen talks about the challenges of limited background knowledge and parent involvement, and how she overcomes them through building relationships. She emphasizes the importance of meeting social-emotional needs alongside academics. Ultimately, Karen feels teaching in a small rural setting allows her to make a lasting impact through personalized learning and deep connections. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

Join Ty and Melissa as they speak with Dan Matchette, a math teacher at Tombstone High School in rural Arizona. Dan has a unique background, having spent 30 years in the Army as a telecommunications engineer before retiring and becoming a teacher. He shares his journey into education, the advantages and challenges of teaching in a small, rural school, and some of his proudest moments as an educator. Dan provides insight into building strong relationships and community in a rural setting, overcoming resource limitations, and opening students' eyes to the opportunities beyond their remote corner of the world. Tune in to hear one teacher's perspective on the rewards and difficulties of shaping young lives in a tight-knit, rural community. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

Join Melissa and Ty as they talk with Josh Adams, a high school science teacher and finalist for the 2023 Arizona Rural School Teacher of the Year award, who shares his journey to teaching and passion for serving students in the rural community of Page, AZ. He discusses the challenges of poverty, trauma, and attendance many of his Navajo students face, as well as the strong relationships and low behavioral issues he experiences teaching rurally. Adams highlights the natural beauty of Page and how he makes global connections for students through international trips. He wears many hats, including coaching sports, leading school clubs, and teaching AVID. Adams stresses the importance of checking biases and believing each rural student can achieve their dreams. He argues rural teachers have the advantage of building close bonds with students in safe, personal learning environments if they take the time to understand the community. Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/