A Call For Your "Portrait of a Rural Teacher"

09/19/22 • 0 min

As part of our work as the Driftless Region Hub, the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin Platteville is issuing a call for a "Portrait of a Rural Teacher." We are looking to feature alumni, who currently serve in rural education, on our website with the idea of giving future teachers an inspiring vision for their future. This includes those who started out in the classroom, but have since then moved into different roles. Please consider sharing your story. You can find the form on our website http://www.proudruralteacherpodcast.com.

Previous Episode

Family & Consumer Education -- A Responsive Approach at Wisconsin Dells High School -- PRTP22

When you think of Wisconsin Dells, I'm guessing the first thing that might come to mind would be the water parks and resorts. Located in southern Wisconsin, Wisconsin Dells draws in well over 4 million visitors a year. Despite that huge tourist draw, the permanent resident population is actually much smaller. Matter of fact, Wisconsin Dells High schools enrollment is just 558 students. A few months ago I was able to take a group of pre-service teachers on a tour of the high school as I heard it was recently built and rather unique. Honestly, I was so caught off guard. Not only is it aesthetically beautiful, with natural light, flexible space, and ample room, the spaces are so carefully placed. One area that really caught me off guard was the family and consumer education spaces. I think back maybe 12 or 15 years ago, I noticed a trend of schools eliminating their family and consumer education departments, but Wisconsin Dells has moved the other way. They've bolstered that department, but think about it. Many of their students head into the hospitality industry during high school or after graduation. The space they've created is responsive to their community. Today you're meeting Erin Michalsky, family and consumer education teacher at Wisconsin Dells High School.

Please check out our show notes at HTTP://www.proudruralteacher.com for photographs and related links.

Next Episode

Dodgeville High School: Full STEAM Ahead -- PRTP23

Our rural school districts in the Driftless Region are creating dynamic opportunities that are responsive to community needs and set children on paths for valuable future careers. Dodgeville High School recently hired Max Frommelt as their STEAM educator. Dodgeville is south of Madison along 151. His charge was to create a stem-rich curriculum focused on digital production. In this episode, you’ll meet his principal to learn why this direction, his students to learn how it’s been impactful, and of course, you’ll hear from Max on how the process evolved. Max has also been named to the Rural Schools Collaborative’s Young Educator’s advisory council.