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Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Education

Creating Highly Qualified Teachers, Dawn L. Mollenkopf Nov 2009

Creating Highly Qualified Teachers, Dawn L. Mollenkopf

The Rural Educator

The “highly qualified teacher” requirement of No Child Left Behind has put pressure on rural school districts to recruit and retain highly qualified regular and special education teachers. If necessary, they may utilize uncertified, rural teachers with provisional certification; however, these teachers may find completing the necessary certification difficult due to time, distance, and geographic barriers. The University of Nebraska at Kearney has been able to address this need by: (1) creating access to the university’s certification program, (2) providing professional supports, (3) tailoring assignments, projects, and field based practicum experiences and (4) building capacity for rural teachers who have …


Rural And Small School Principal Candidates: Perspectives Of Hiring Superintendents, Patricia A. Cruzeiro, Mike Boone Nov 2009

Rural And Small School Principal Candidates: Perspectives Of Hiring Superintendents, Patricia A. Cruzeiro, Mike Boone

The Rural Educator

This article reports the results of an inquiry into the dynamics of principal selection in rural school districts in two mid-American states with high numbers of rural schools. The study focuses on two questions: (1) are rural school districts experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for vacant principal’s positions; and (2) what professional and personal characteristics do superintendents seek in selecting principals for rural schools? Data for the study were collected through a review of the relevant research literature and interviews with superintendents of rural school districts. The study confirmed that rural school districts in these two states are in …


Preparing Teachers For Rural Appointments, Zoe A. Barley Nov 2009

Preparing Teachers For Rural Appointments, Zoe A. Barley

The Rural Educator

Rural schools face difficulties recruiting or retaining qualified teachers. Prospective teachers need help better understanding the nature of rural teaching. Despite many pluses, collegial isolation, low salaries, multiple grade or subject teaching assignments, and lack of familiarity with rural schools and communities are challenges to new teachers in rural schools. This study examined nine mid-continent institutions for five components identified as preparing and retaining teachers to teach in rural schools. From the 120 teacher preparation institutions in the mid-continent, 17 confirmed the existence of a rural program emphasis. Nine of the 17 had three or more rural programs. Three of …


The Educational Aspirations/Attainment Gap Among Rural Alaska Native Students, Aaron Doyle Nov 2009

The Educational Aspirations/Attainment Gap Among Rural Alaska Native Students, Aaron Doyle

The Rural Educator

Indigenous students in rural Alaska hold high educational aspirations and yet few students realize their educational goals (Hamilton & Seyfrit, 1993; Kleinfeld & McDiarmid, 1986; McDiarmid & Kleinfeld, 1981). Our purpose in this study was tounderstand why so many Alaska Native students from small, isolated communities “drift” after high school, neither entering the postsecondary programs they aspire to, nor engaging in paid work. The contribution of this study is to clarify the reasons for the “educational aspirations-achievement gap,” in other words, why so many Alaska Native rural students have high educational expectations, and yet remain directionless in adult life. This …


Job Satisfaction Of Iowa Public School Principals, Boris Sodoma, David Else Nov 2009

Job Satisfaction Of Iowa Public School Principals, Boris Sodoma, David Else

The Rural Educator

The purpose of this study was to examine the job satisfaction of Iowa public school principals and contrast the job satisfaction to the perceptions six years previously. The population for the 1999 and 2005 study was a sample of principals from Iowa K-12 schools. The study revealed significant differences in overall job satisfaction, in gender of the principals, years served as a principal, and type of schools in both studies. No significant differences were found for years served in present position. The results indicated that principals were overall more satisfied in the 2005 than they were in 1999. The findings …


Impact Of No Child Left Behind On Curriculum And Instruction In Rural Schools, Deborah Powell, Heidi J. Higgins, Roberta Aram, Andrea Freed Nov 2009

Impact Of No Child Left Behind On Curriculum And Instruction In Rural Schools, Deborah Powell, Heidi J. Higgins, Roberta Aram, Andrea Freed

The Rural Educator

This article examines the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act on the decision making of rural principals and teachers about curriculum and instruction as well as the possible long-term effects on rural education. Data were gathered from 101 rural elementary school principals in Missouri and 76 rural elementary school teachers in Maine. Missouri principals were concerned about losing their autonomy and abilities to be instructional leaders. Maine teachers reported that NCLB benefited some groups of students more than others and that it has a negative effect on student motivation. There were significant changes in instructional time for some …


Rural Research Brief: Using An Ecojustice Perspective To Inform Science Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Rural Black Belt Region Of Georgia, Georgia Hodges, Deborah J. Tippins Nov 2009

Rural Research Brief: Using An Ecojustice Perspective To Inform Science Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Rural Black Belt Region Of Georgia, Georgia Hodges, Deborah J. Tippins

The Rural Educator

This article highlights the significance of using ecojustice theory in scholarly discussions regarding issues of science teaching and learning in rural communities of the Southeastern United States. We offer an explanation of how ecojusticetheory provides a new way to look at often studied issues surrounding education in rural communities. This article specifically addresses the issue of science teacher recruitment and retention and draws attention to some of the emergingtensions faced by educators in the Black Belt region of Georgia.


Supporting Online Learning For Advanced Placement Students In Small Rural Schools: Conceptual Foundations And Intervention Components Of The Facilitator Preparation Program, Matthew J. Irvin, Wallace H. Hannum, Thomas W. Farmer, Claire De La Varre, Julie Keane Nov 2009

Supporting Online Learning For Advanced Placement Students In Small Rural Schools: Conceptual Foundations And Intervention Components Of The Facilitator Preparation Program, Matthew J. Irvin, Wallace H. Hannum, Thomas W. Farmer, Claire De La Varre, Julie Keane

The Rural Educator

This paper examines the need for interventions to support students who are taking advanced placement courses in small rural districts and describes the Facilitator Preparation Program (FPP) as a strategy to address this need. Issues in the delivery of Online Distance Education (ODE) in small rural schools are summarized and the conceptual foundations and service delivery considerations of the FPP are outlined. Future research needs are also considered.


Rural School Leadership For Collaborative Community Development, Hobarat L. Harmon, Kai Schafft Nov 2009

Rural School Leadership For Collaborative Community Development, Hobarat L. Harmon, Kai Schafft

The Rural Educator

In this article we address the role of rural schools in community development. We first discuss the largely historical linkages between rural schools and the communities they serve, and what this means for both school and community well-being. We then consider the newly revised standards for preparing school administrators, developed by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium, and how these standards may align with community-building efforts. In sum, we argue that enlightened educational leadership that seriously takes into account the 21st Century needs of students – as well as the communities in which they reside – cannot help but interpret …


Rural School Principals’ Perception Of The School Counselor's Role, Gerta Bardhoshi, Kelly Duncan Nov 2009

Rural School Principals’ Perception Of The School Counselor's Role, Gerta Bardhoshi, Kelly Duncan

The Rural Educator

Responding to the lack of clarity related to the defined role of the school counselor, the authors investigated school principals (n = 538), in a rural Midwest state, and their perceptions of the role of the school counselor. The survey utilized was developed based on professional standards of service delivery for professional school counselors as identified by the American School Counselor Association and a listing of identified appropriate and inappropriate school counselor tasks. Results indicate that school principals see responsive service provision as an essential task of the school counselor. School principals also perceive a number of ASCA identified inappropriate …


The Perceptions Of Math And Math Education In Midville, Illinois, David M. Lucas, Jamie Fugitt Nov 2009

The Perceptions Of Math And Math Education In Midville, Illinois, David M. Lucas, Jamie Fugitt

The Rural Educator

By means of a qualitative research method known as folknography, a concerted effort was made to discern perceptions of math and math education in the rural Midwest. A community that will be referred to as Midville, located in the state of Illinois, was chosen as the target population for this study. The community and surrounding region stands over one hundred miles from the nearest metro complex. The study was conducted in May of 2006. After completion of the initial field work, data were collected, analyzed, and summarized, producing this document.


Achievement Differences Between Large And Small Schools In Texas, Lee Stewart Mar 2009

Achievement Differences Between Large And Small Schools In Texas, Lee Stewart

The Rural Educator

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there exists a relationship between student achievement in Texas, as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test, and the size of the high school at differentsocioeconomic levels. This study compared five size categories of Texas high schools to determine which size high school had the highest percentage of eleventh grade students passing all four sections (reading, writing, math, and science) of the TAKS test. Data were examined for statistical significance using an ANOVA and a post hoc Scheffé test. The findings indicate that smaller rural schools experience …


Helping Children With Emotional Difficulties, Lee R. Pearce Mar 2009

Helping Children With Emotional Difficulties, Lee R. Pearce

The Rural Educator

This article describes a Response to Intervention (RTI) model of service delivery implemented within a rural elementary school for students in kindergarten through fifth grade experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties. A multi-tiered model is presented that includes school wide interventions in Tier 1, as well as a six separate interventions applied within Tier 2 and Tier 3. These included applied behavioral analysis, social skills training, counseling, differentiated instruction, cognitive behavioral interventions and parent involvement designed to assist identified students with improving prosocial skills. Nine children were treated within this program model over a two year period, resulting in two …


A Comparison Of The Parent-Child Interactions Between Russian Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Families In A Rural Setting In Missouri, Jimalee L. James, Barbara N. Martin Mar 2009

A Comparison Of The Parent-Child Interactions Between Russian Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Families In A Rural Setting In Missouri, Jimalee L. James, Barbara N. Martin

The Rural Educator

The purpose of this study was to compare the parent/child interactions between Russian immigrant and non-immigrant families in a rural Missouri school setting. A questionnaire was administered to 30 American families and 30 Russian immigrant families. Data concerning developmental level upon kindergarten entry were gathered from kindergarten screening protocols. Findings revealed that there were significance differences between the two sets of parents for the twelve literacy activities. Also significant differences were found regarding developmental levels between children who received Head Start as compared to those who attended preschool. Implications for early childhood literacy programs and the development of preschool language …


Unique Rural District Politics, Tod Allen Farmer Mar 2009

Unique Rural District Politics, Tod Allen Farmer

The Rural Educator

The politics of rural educational leadership are both intense and concentrated. Rural educational leaders need to be savvy and politically skilled if they are to inspire educational stakeholders and accomplish organizational objectives. The local school system is an organization with a political culture that can be characterized as a competitive environment in which various groups from both within and without are competing for power and limited resources. Local school systems are entrusted with both children and tax dollars, two precious resources. Coupled with such entrustment is political input from all points within the political continuum. Schools and politics are inseparable.


Rural Research Brief: Making Room For Place-Based Knowledge In Rural Classrooms, Devora Shamah, Katherine A. Mactavish Mar 2009

Rural Research Brief: Making Room For Place-Based Knowledge In Rural Classrooms, Devora Shamah, Katherine A. Mactavish

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.