Exploring Differences and Practicing Justice: Preparing Preservice Teachers for Success in Rural Schools

• In Event: 63.080 - Making Rural Schools Work

Abstract

Staffing rural schools with highly qualified teachers is a persistent challenge. Rural exposure improves rural schools’ ability to recruit and retain teachers. In this paper, we examine how a sense of place and educational upbringing influence a preservice teacher’s willingness to teach in a rural school. Participants were secondary education students completing their student teaching in rural schools. Data analysis of surveys and other documents led to salient themes: (a) preservice teachers’ educational experience informed their confidence for teaching in rural schools; (b) preservice teachers perceived their rural students to lack educational motivation; and (c) context influenced preservice teachers’ concepts of teaching in rural schools. Discussion includes notes for better preparing preservice teachers for success in rural schools.

Authors

• Amy Price Azano, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Trevor Thomas Stewart, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University