Rural Secondary Teachers: The "Jack-of-All-Trades"
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Amanda Eller (Mentor), Idaho State University; and Dr. Suzanne Beasterfield (Mentor), Idaho State University
Abstract
I attended the TRAIL Experience program through the College of Education at Idaho State University this May. I, as well as seven other colleagues, were hosted by the town of Arco, Idaho. There were two goals: (1) to gain more knowledge and experience about teaching—specifically in a smaller school—and (2) to experience life in a rural remote area. For four days, we each shadowed a teacher’s day, explored the town, and gathered to discuss our successes, observations, and concerns. On the fourth day, we also had an opportunity to visit Mackay High School and learn from Idaho Teacher of the Year Trent Van Leuven’s experience at a rural remote school.
My project centers around the common practice of teachers in remote schools, especially middle and high school teachers, to take on multiple roles. Teaching multiple subjects and grade levels, coaching, facilitating clubs, and even running businesses. My research questions why one would put this extra stress on themselves, how educators can cope with this strain, and why this is more common and even expected in a town like Arco with a population of just under 1,000.
Rural Secondary Teachers: The "Jack-of-All-Trades"
I attended the TRAIL Experience program through the College of Education at Idaho State University this May. I, as well as seven other colleagues, were hosted by the town of Arco, Idaho. There were two goals: (1) to gain more knowledge and experience about teaching—specifically in a smaller school—and (2) to experience life in a rural remote area. For four days, we each shadowed a teacher’s day, explored the town, and gathered to discuss our successes, observations, and concerns. On the fourth day, we also had an opportunity to visit Mackay High School and learn from Idaho Teacher of the Year Trent Van Leuven’s experience at a rural remote school.
My project centers around the common practice of teachers in remote schools, especially middle and high school teachers, to take on multiple roles. Teaching multiple subjects and grade levels, coaching, facilitating clubs, and even running businesses. My research questions why one would put this extra stress on themselves, how educators can cope with this strain, and why this is more common and even expected in a town like Arco with a population of just under 1,000.