Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps Hosts Annual Capstone Fair at UW

The Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps recently hosted its annual Capstone Fair at the University of Wyoming College of Education -- an event for second-year participants and advanced corps members to present projects and reflect on their experiences from the past academic year.

The Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps is an initiative within UW’s School of Teacher Education and in partnership with Teton Science Schools, designed to prepare future educators to thrive in rural classrooms and contribute to the sustainability of Wyoming’s rural communities, says Alison Mercier, an assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education and lead coordinator for the program.

“By fostering a strong network of pre-service teachers and experienced mentors, the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps provides essential professional, academic and social support for those who plan to teach in rural schools,” Mercier says.

The corps members featured in the Capstone Fair are part of the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps’ Year 2+ cohort. The students have already completed their first year in the program and chose to return for a second -- or even third -- year, to further their growth.

“When we were shaping the Year 2+ experience, we knew it needed to be flexible and driven by each corps member’s goals,” Mercier says. “What makes these projects so impressive is that they were initiated and carried out entirely by the students, on top of their coursework and student teaching. Whether attending and presenting at national conferences, collaborating on place- and community-based projects, or designing their own curriculum, these students showed an incredible level of initiative and commitment to rural education.”

UW College of Education student presenters, listed by hometown, were:

-- Torin Chavez, a Cheyenne senior, discussed his experiences with the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps and the National Forum for the Advancement of Rural Education Conference. He focused on rural community engagement and strategies for supporting rural schools.

-- Ashley Haratyk, a Lander graduate, presented an interactive display focused on community-driven education and water availability. Her project emerged from her work in the Teacher-Researcher Knowledge Exchange, where she collaborated with Wyoming educators and researchers on place-based initiatives. She will teach in the dual-language program at Afflerbach Elementary School in Cheyenne this fall.

-- Danielle Jelesiewicz, a Veteran graduate, presented a place-based social studies unit she designed and implemented for fourth and fifth graders at Rock River School. Her 13-lesson unit combined hands-on exploration with community history. She will begin teaching kindergarten at Uinta Meadows Elementary School in Evanston this fall.

-- Jacob Jelesiewicz, a Voorhees, N.J., graduate, shared his experiences attending the National Forum to Advance Rural Education Conference. His project explored place-based learning, virtual instruction through proximity learning and university-school partnerships. He also participated in a panel presentation about the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps’ collaboration with Rock River School. He will begin teaching first grade, also at Uinta Meadows Elementary School in the fall.

-- Toby Johnson, a Newcastle junior, presented a project developed through the Teacher-Researcher Knowledge Exchange with UW’s Science and Mathematics Teaching Center. He partnered with Wyoming educators to create a guide to help students better understand real-world scientific texts.

-- Kialie Staggs, a Lyman senior, presented a poster titled “Rural Teaching in Many Places” that reflected on her involvement in the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps and her attendance at the National Forum for the Advancement of Rural Education Conference. Her project focused on the unique challenges and strengths of rural schools.

The Capstone Fair served not only as a celebration of student work, but also as a platform for sharing insights about the future of rural education in Wyoming and beyond, Mercier says.

For more information, visit the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps website here.