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Full-Text Articles in Education

Healing And Connectedness At Akhiok Kids Camp, Speridon Simeonoff Sr., Judy Simeonoff, Teacon Simeonoff, Speridon Simeonoff Jr., Sven Haakanson Jr., Cheri Simeonoff, Balika Haakanson, Leilani Sabzalian Feb 2024

Healing And Connectedness At Akhiok Kids Camp, Speridon Simeonoff Sr., Judy Simeonoff, Teacon Simeonoff, Speridon Simeonoff Jr., Sven Haakanson Jr., Cheri Simeonoff, Balika Haakanson, Leilani Sabzalian

The Rural Educator

Each August, Sugpiaq Elders, community members, and educators gather in Cape Alitak to host Akhiok Kids Camp, a week-long culture camp that provides a space for local Sugpiaq youth to learn and carry forward traditional lifeways and promotes youth’s self-esteem, identity, and healthy choices. This article traces the legacy of the camp and outlines its ongoing vision and curriculum, including the Indigenous values and principles of education that guide camp activities. Of particular focus is the role of camp in fostering Sugpiaq youth’s sense of connectedness to their homelands, waters, community, and culture, a focus that promotes healing, cultural resurgence, …


“It Ain’T Gonna Be My History”: Collaborative Meaning-Making To Advance Curricular Sovereignty With(In) Rural, Indigenous-Serving Schools, Amanda Leclair-Diaz, Christine Stanton Feb 2024

“It Ain’T Gonna Be My History”: Collaborative Meaning-Making To Advance Curricular Sovereignty With(In) Rural, Indigenous-Serving Schools, Amanda Leclair-Diaz, Christine Stanton

The Rural Educator

This article describes storywork and collaborative meaning making as relational practices that can support stakeholder learning about curricular sovereignty with(in) rural Indigenous-serving school districts. While various treaties and policies exist to protect the educational interests of Indigenous Nations, enacting curricular sovereignty often demands extensive resources that are limited in many rural reservation and reservation bordertown contexts. The authors, who have a long-standing relationship as co-learners, exchange stories about their experiences as an Indigenous student and non-Indigenous educator within such contexts, and then engage in collaborative meaning making to think more deeply about these experiences as curriculum decision makers and scholars. …


Tribal College And University (Tcu) Leadership, Faculty, And Staff Perspectives On Student Success, Natalie R. Youngbull, David Sanders Feb 2024

Tribal College And University (Tcu) Leadership, Faculty, And Staff Perspectives On Student Success, Natalie R. Youngbull, David Sanders

The Rural Educator

This article highlights how Tribal college leadership, faculty, and staff members define student success. Several major factors were described across the different levels of participants and are presented as the major themes: cultivating a familial environment, mission centered, cultural knowledge and wealth, community impact, and student goals achieved.


Seasons Of Learning: Rural Indigenous Teacher Preparation, Dani O'Brien, Josh Montgomery, Bezhigogaabawiikwe Hunter, Niizhoobinesiikwe Howes, Waasegiizhigookwe Rosie Gonzalez, Manidoo Makwe Ikwe, Kevin Zak Feb 2024

Seasons Of Learning: Rural Indigenous Teacher Preparation, Dani O'Brien, Josh Montgomery, Bezhigogaabawiikwe Hunter, Niizhoobinesiikwe Howes, Waasegiizhigookwe Rosie Gonzalez, Manidoo Makwe Ikwe, Kevin Zak

The Rural Educator

We, four teachers in Ojibwe or majority-Ojibwe schools and three teachers in teacher preparation at a small ecologically focused liberal arts college, tell stories to reorient ourselves, centering place in ways accessible to our emerging practice. In these narratives, anchored in the seasons, we describe our challenges and successes in adapting education programs to better evoke the lifeways that predominate in our shared part of rural northern Wisconsin immersed in the lands of the Ojibwe. We relied on experiences, both ours and of Ojibwe learners, to illuminate the rhythms of our place and the seasons of learning defined by boreal …


From Theory To Practice: How The Cheyenne And Arapaho Department Of Education (Re)Centered Indian Education In Western Rural Oklahoma, Carrie F. Whitlow Feb 2024

From Theory To Practice: How The Cheyenne And Arapaho Department Of Education (Re)Centered Indian Education In Western Rural Oklahoma, Carrie F. Whitlow

The Rural Educator

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Department of Education (CADOE) functions as a tribal education department (TED) in western rural Oklahoma, situated within a tribal government that has a total membership of 13,212, 3,160 of whom are ages 3–18 years. CADOE has supported and advocated for equal opportunity and access for Cheyenne and Arapaho families and students since its inception. The purpose of this article is to utilize the Liberating Sovereign Potential framework to illustrate how CADOE continues to employ tenets from the model to liberate their sovereign potential, often serving students and families in rural contexts. While significant literature addresses Indigenous …


Introduction To Joint Special Issue Between The Rural Educator And Journal Of American Indian Education Collaboration: Issue 1, Alex Redcorn, Daniella Sutherland, Anna Lees, Mandy Chesley-Park, Braxton Redeagle Feb 2024

Introduction To Joint Special Issue Between The Rural Educator And Journal Of American Indian Education Collaboration: Issue 1, Alex Redcorn, Daniella Sutherland, Anna Lees, Mandy Chesley-Park, Braxton Redeagle

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


“There's An Unspoken Set Of Rules”: Rural Education In The Northern Plains, Louise M. Yoho, Jarrett D. Moore Oct 2023

“There's An Unspoken Set Of Rules”: Rural Education In The Northern Plains, Louise M. Yoho, Jarrett D. Moore

The Rural Educator

Teacher preparation programs that operate in rural areas need to consider the lived experiences of rural students when making instructional decisions. However, exploration of rural schools and educators is seriously limited. This study aims to gain an understanding of students enrolled in teacher preparation programs in rural areas of the Northern Plains and the unique experiences they bring to, and need from, preservice teacher training programs. Seventeen interviews were conducted with rural participants who were enrolled in teacher preparation programs. Based on the data collected, we do not recommend changing the traditional canon of teacher preparation but do recommend contextualizing …


Why Rural Matters 2023: Centering Equity And Opportunity: A Discussion With The Research Team, Sara L. Hartman, Jerry Johnson, Daniel Showalter, Karen Eppley, Bob Klein Oct 2023

Why Rural Matters 2023: Centering Equity And Opportunity: A Discussion With The Research Team, Sara L. Hartman, Jerry Johnson, Daniel Showalter, Karen Eppley, Bob Klein

The Rural Educator

Authors of the Why Rural Matters 2023 report discuss its development and key findings.


Rural Teachers’ And Non-Rural Teachers’ Motivations To Teach: Differences And Similarities, David J. Leech, Nancy L. Leech, Evan Mcclintock, Carolyn A. Haug Oct 2023

Rural Teachers’ And Non-Rural Teachers’ Motivations To Teach: Differences And Similarities, David J. Leech, Nancy L. Leech, Evan Mcclintock, Carolyn A. Haug

The Rural Educator

The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations of teachers in a Midwestern state that has a mix of rural and non-rural geographic regions. Namely, this study set out to identify differences between educators working in rural areas and those working in non-rural (urban or suburban) regions by examining their motivations, perceptions, and reasons for teaching through administration of the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) survey to a group of 616 Midwestern educators. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis confirms that the collected data do fit the model as outlined by Watt and Richardson, and significant differences were found …


A Guide To Proactively Navigate Policy Conflict For Rural Educational Leaders, Daniella Sutherland Oct 2023

A Guide To Proactively Navigate Policy Conflict For Rural Educational Leaders, Daniella Sutherland

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Conceptualizing Rurality In Education Policy: Comparative Evidence From Missouri, Abby Burrola, Dorothy Rohde-Collins, J. Cameron Anglum Jul 2023

Conceptualizing Rurality In Education Policy: Comparative Evidence From Missouri, Abby Burrola, Dorothy Rohde-Collins, J. Cameron Anglum

The Rural Educator

For education policies to be implemented most effectively in local contexts, policymakers must consider diverse school and community geographic characteristics. For example, rural geographies often present particularly important dynamics for public schooling, including challenges with school enrollment, school funding, and teacher labor markets. We focus on Missouri, where over two-thirds of its school districts are located in rural areas. Enrollment in these districts varies over 100-fold, yet little research describes the similarities and differences between these districts and how to appropriately distinguish between them to best advise contemporary policymaking. In this study, we analyze data from the American Community Survey, …


Policy Brief: An Interview With U. S. Department Of Education Director Of Rural Engagement Julia Cunningham, Devon Brenner, Julia Cunningham Jul 2023

Policy Brief: An Interview With U. S. Department Of Education Director Of Rural Engagement Julia Cunningham, Devon Brenner, Julia Cunningham

The Rural Educator

Julia Cunningham joined the Department of Education in March 2023 as Director, Rural Engagement in the Office of Communications and Outreach. Recently, Julia sat down with Devon Brenner, editor of The Rural Educator, to talk about her role and resources at the U.S. Department of Education for rural education.


The 2023 Whippoorwill Award: The 2023 Whippoorwill Award: Complex Representations Of Rural Identities And Places, Chea L. Parton, Erika L. Bass, Devon Brenner, Kate E. Kedley, Alan Hoffmann, Jennifer Sanders, Jacqueline Yahn Mrs., Michael Young Jul 2023

The 2023 Whippoorwill Award: The 2023 Whippoorwill Award: Complex Representations Of Rural Identities And Places, Chea L. Parton, Erika L. Bass, Devon Brenner, Kate E. Kedley, Alan Hoffmann, Jennifer Sanders, Jacqueline Yahn Mrs., Michael Young

The Rural Educator

Announcing the 2023 Whippoorwill Award winners.


There’S Land Between Us: Rurality In The Northern Great Plains, Jarrett D. Moore, Louise M. Yoho Apr 2023

There’S Land Between Us: Rurality In The Northern Great Plains, Jarrett D. Moore, Louise M. Yoho

The Rural Educator

While there is a significant body of educational literature addressing the character and needs of rural communities in the Appalachian and southern regions of the US, there is a need for a better understanding of rural communities outside of this region. Existing literature focused on US rurality revolves around four main themes: the rural idyllic, isolation and deficits, rural identity, and community. The voices, experiences, and needs of future teachers of the Northern Great Plains are missing from this dominant narrative and this study begins to address this gap. This qualitative study is based on data collected from 16 semi-structured …


Rural Critical Policy Analysis: A Framework For Examining Policy Through A Rural Lens, Devon Brenner Jan 2023

Rural Critical Policy Analysis: A Framework For Examining Policy Through A Rural Lens, Devon Brenner

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


The Experiences Of Rural School Attorneys: Implications For School Leaders, Daniel A. Decino, Phillip L. Waalkes, Connor Donohoe Jan 2023

The Experiences Of Rural School Attorneys: Implications For School Leaders, Daniel A. Decino, Phillip L. Waalkes, Connor Donohoe

The Rural Educator

Rural school leaders encounter an array of complex issues that require legal counsel. Student discipline, contract disputes, employee conduct, special education, and a host of other topics require school boards and superintendents to utilize school attorneys. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the daily experiences of ten school attorneys representing multiple school districts in rural areas. Three salient themes emerged (a) the work of a school attorney, (b) relationships and interactions with school personnel, and (c) insights for others. Themes provide a comprehensive picture regarding school attorneys’ roles, responsibilities, and engagements with school personnel within rural schools. Implications, including the importance …


Crafting Better Rural-Focused Postsecondary Policy By Identifying Rural-Serving Institutions, Andrew Koricich Nov 2022

Crafting Better Rural-Focused Postsecondary Policy By Identifying Rural-Serving Institutions, Andrew Koricich

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


2022-2027 National Rural Research Agenda, National Rural Education Association Jul 2022

2022-2027 National Rural Research Agenda, National Rural Education Association

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Dynamic Policy Solutions For Rural El Educators, Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, Adrienne Johnson Jul 2022

Dynamic Policy Solutions For Rural El Educators, Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, Adrienne Johnson

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Why Teachers Remain Teaching In Rural Districts: Listening To The Voices From The Field, Nancy L. Leech, Carolyn A. Haug, Eleanor Rodriguez, Molly Gold Jul 2022

Why Teachers Remain Teaching In Rural Districts: Listening To The Voices From The Field, Nancy L. Leech, Carolyn A. Haug, Eleanor Rodriguez, Molly Gold

The Rural Educator

Retaining teachers is a problem in all districts but is especially difficult in rural areas. This survey research asked teachers in a western state to respond to open ended questions regarding their choice for teaching in a rural or urban area. Results indicate teachers work in a rural locale because they grew up in the area, already lived there as an adult, and/or had a spouse/partner with a job in the area. Both rural and non-rural teachers cited the importance of a positive school environment with supportive administrators and good working conditions. Teachers stated inadequate working conditions at school affected …


National Rural Education Association Research Agenda–2022-2027: A Closer Look At The Research Priorities, Sara L. Hartman, J. Kessa Roberts, Sarah Schmitt-Wilson, Erin Mchenry-Sorber, Pamela J. Buffington, Catharine Biddle Jul 2022

National Rural Education Association Research Agenda–2022-2027: A Closer Look At The Research Priorities, Sara L. Hartman, J. Kessa Roberts, Sarah Schmitt-Wilson, Erin Mchenry-Sorber, Pamela J. Buffington, Catharine Biddle

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Uncovering Rural Educators' Secret Agency, Jennifer Karnopp May 2022

Uncovering Rural Educators' Secret Agency, Jennifer Karnopp

The Rural Educator

School change efforts often rely on formal organizational structures to support educator knowledge of new instructional practices. Rural districts face challenges accessing the resources necessary for robust structures, but informal relationships among educators are often strong. Using structuration theory as a lens, this paper examines the knowledge-building behaviors of educators in one rural school district regarding new instructional practices related to a recent initiative. A thematic analysis of interviews with a purposive sample of district educators reveals that, in the absence of robust formal supports, educator agency was critical for establishing informal knowledge-building structures that supported knowledge-sharing within district schools. …


Revisiting The Revolving Door Of Rural Superintendent Turnover, Barry Kamrath May 2022

Revisiting The Revolving Door Of Rural Superintendent Turnover, Barry Kamrath

The Rural Educator

This qualitative multiple case study is a follow-up to a study completed in 2007 that examined characteristics of rural school districts experiencing a high rate of superintendent turnover. The original study design incorporated extensive interviews with participants across four rural school districts; triangulating interview results with information found in school board minutes and published media articles. The four case districts had employed a total of 19 superintendents in the ten-year period leading up to the original study. However, since then, three of the districts have experienced a drastic change in their turnover trend. This study revisits the four rural districts …


The Potential Of Service Learning In Rural Schools: The Case Of The Working Together Project, Benjamin Ingman, Katie Lohmiller, Nick Cutforth, Elaine Belansky May 2022

The Potential Of Service Learning In Rural Schools: The Case Of The Working Together Project, Benjamin Ingman, Katie Lohmiller, Nick Cutforth, Elaine Belansky

The Rural Educator

Service learning has been established as a promising method of teaching and learning that engages youth as change agents in their schools and communities. But service learning has not been widely implemented or studied in rural K-12 schools. This study explores the case of a service learning curriculum, the Working Together Project (WTP), in a rural, high-poverty school. Data collection included classroom observations, surveys, and individual/focus group interviews with participants of the curriculum. The case study findings illustrate how the WTP curriculum unfolded with students, benefits for the school (cross-generational collaboration, school introspection and improvement), benefits for the students (collaborative …


Literacy In Place: Creating Community By Reading And Writing Rural Stories, Chea L. Parton May 2022

Literacy In Place: Creating Community By Reading And Writing Rural Stories, Chea L. Parton

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Promising Practices In African American Rural Education College Transitions And Postsecondary Experiences, Loni Crumb, Crystal R. Chambers Feb 2022

Promising Practices In African American Rural Education College Transitions And Postsecondary Experiences, Loni Crumb, Crystal R. Chambers

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Introduction For The Special Issue: Race And Rurality In Education Feb 2022

Introduction For The Special Issue: Race And Rurality In Education

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.


Moving Into Critical Spaces: Making Meaning Of One Rural Educator’S Experiences Working With Latinx Immigrant Students, Stephanie Oudghiri Feb 2022

Moving Into Critical Spaces: Making Meaning Of One Rural Educator’S Experiences Working With Latinx Immigrant Students, Stephanie Oudghiri

The Rural Educator

This research highlights the experiences of one rural educator in a Midwestern elementary school. Initially grounded in Swanson’s middle range theory of caring (1991, 1993), the author sought to make meaning of how the participant worked with immigrant students, specifically undocumented Latinx students, through an ethic of care. As tensions emerged from classroom-based observations and interviews, the author chose to draw upon Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a way of examining how racism operates within educational spaces. Guided by Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) narrative form, through the description (telling) and reflection (retelling), the author makes meaning of racial biases, microaggressions, …


“Does It Identify Me?”: The Multiple Identities Of College Students From Rural Areas, Elise J. Cain, Jenay F. E. Willis Feb 2022

“Does It Identify Me?”: The Multiple Identities Of College Students From Rural Areas, Elise J. Cain, Jenay F. E. Willis

The Rural Educator

The understanding of identities is an important component to understanding students and their experiences in educational contexts, especially in postsecondary education. There is limited information about the identities of college students from rural areas because this student population is often neglected as a distinct group in higher education literature. This article details a study utilizing narrative inquiry to explore the identities of three college students who graduated from high schools in rural areas. The findings suggest that these students’ races and ethnicities, genders and biological sexes, and sexual orientations were their salient social identities. Rurality was not a prominent identity, …


Educators’ Perspectives On Factors Impacting Stem Achievement In Rural Indigenous Student- Serving Schools, Annmaria De Mars, Juliana Taken Alive, Maria Burns Ortiz, Zixuan Ma, Minruo Wang Feb 2022

Educators’ Perspectives On Factors Impacting Stem Achievement In Rural Indigenous Student- Serving Schools, Annmaria De Mars, Juliana Taken Alive, Maria Burns Ortiz, Zixuan Ma, Minruo Wang

The Rural Educator

This study addressed the question, “What factors do experts perceive as impacting STEM achievement of students in rural schools with predominantly Indigenous students?” A thematic analysis of interviews with 40 educators with a depth of experience identified six major themes: holistic STEM education, inclusion of local culture in STEM education, highly qualified staff, STEM curriculum and instruction, technology, and STEM funding. These themes were interrelated. Holistic education demanded more individualized curriculum and required more highly qualified staff who could adapt the curriculum and integrate technology with traditional knowledge, but these educators were harder to hire and retain due to low …