Four education majors selected as 2026-27 Rural Teacher Corps interns

Four Ohio University Eastern education majors have been selected to serve as senior interns for the 2026-27 Rural Teacher Corps (RTC), where they will help plan programming, support community partnerships and prepare for the upcoming academic year.

Jae Chance, Ava Jewell, Mady Drosieko and Trista Regis will work alongside faculty, community partners and fellow students to support Rural Teacher Corps programming throughout the summer and 2026-27 academic year.

The Rural Teacher Corps is part of the Rural Schools Collaborative Ohio Hub, a partnership between Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) and Ohio University Regional Higher Education. The Ohio Hub works to strengthen connections among schools, businesses and communities while preparing future educators to serve in rural and small-town schools.

As senior interns, the students will help strengthen the program's partnership with Captina Conservancy, the Rural Teacher Corps' community partner for the 2026-27 academic year. They will also assist with planning meetings, field trips, community events and other activities that support RTC programming. The internship provides leadership development opportunities and hands-on experience working with community organizations throughout the region.

The interns recently kicked off their summer leadership experience with a visit to Dysart Woods, one of Ohio's largest remaining tracts of old-growth forest. The field experience introduced them to local natural resources while demonstrating how place-based learning can enrich educational programming.

Chance said the decision to apply as an RTC intern was influenced by the opportunities and experiences gained through participation in the Rural Teacher Corps.

"The decision to apply to become an RTC intern came from everything the group stands for and is striving to achieve," Chance said. "The experiences gained through the Rural Teacher Corps and the people involved in the program inspired a commitment to community- and career-connected learning. The opportunity to continue learning and building partnerships will help support the goal of becoming a successful rural teacher."

Jewell said the internship provides an opportunity to build relationships, develop professional skills and learn from educators and community partners.

"I am looking forward to building meaningful relationships with everyone we work with this year," Jewell said. "As an aspiring elementary teacher, I am excited to learn from experienced educators, partner with Captina Conservancy, develop professional skills and engage in meaningful opportunities. I believe this internship will strengthen my confidence as an educator and help prepare me to make a positive impact on the lives of future students. I am excited and grateful to have this experience."

Drosieko said the internship offers opportunities to learn from fellow interns while gaining a deeper understanding of rural communities and education.

"What I am most looking forward to during my internship experience is learning from and working alongside three amazing seniors who truly demonstrate the importance of investing in rural communities," Drosieko said. "As someone who hopes to make a difference as an educator, I am excited to gain a deeper understanding of the strengths, opportunities and unique experiences our rural areas have to offer.

"I am also looking forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone by exploring new places, meeting new people and experiencing perspectives that will challenge me both personally and professionally. I hope this internship will not only broaden my understanding of rural education but also shape the way I think as a future educator. Most importantly, I am excited to see how this experience continues to impact my growth and influence my career after graduation."

Regis said the internship provides opportunities to experience rural communities firsthand and apply those experiences to future classroom teaching.

"I am most looking forward to getting out into the field, exploring the surrounding communities and learning more about the places through hands-on experiences," Regis said. "I believe this opportunity will benefit not only me as a future educator but also my future students. I can teach them about these areas while helping them build connections within their communities.

"I have realized that instead of learning about these places from a textbook or lesson, actually going out and experiencing them is a huge benefit for learning."

Throughout the summer, the interns will meet with community partners, visit Captina Conservancy sites and assist with events and activities that support the Ohio Hub's mission. They will also help prepare for the arrival of new and returning Rural Teacher Corps members this fall.

"I value the leadership our interns bring to this work and the care they give in building our partnership with Captina Conservancy," said Dr. Jacqueline Yahn, associate professor of teacher education at Ohio University Eastern and co-lead of the Ohio Hub. "From our first meeting, they have demonstrated to me that they are prepared to transform their summer opportunities into meaningful, real-world experiences for our Rural Teacher Corps participants. Their energy and guidance are what truly bridge the gap among our students, community partners and the rural places they will one day serve as educators.”

Megan Cremeans, managing director of the Rural Teacher Corps with Rural Schools Collaborative, said programs such as RTC help prepare future educators while strengthening rural communities.

“The Ohio Rural Teacher Corps helps students build meaningful connections with rural schools and communities," Cremeans said. “Its interns bring enthusiasm, curiosity, and a strong sense of place to their work, demonstrating that teaching is deeply rooted in community. Through relationships and local experiences developed over the year, they learn from partners across the region while growing as educators and leaders.”

“It is especially rewarding to see these future teachers contribute to meaningful work throughout Appalachian Ohio. Programs like the Ohio Rural Teacher Corps not only prepare strong educators but also highlight the value of investing in the people and communities that make rural education unique.”

Internship participants receive a stipend, leadership experience and opportunities to build professional networks through partnerships with organizations including Captina Conservancy, Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District and Building Bridges to Careers.

The Rural Teacher Corps is supported through partnerships with Building Bridges to Careers and Rural Schools Collaborative and funded by the Sugar Bush Foundation. The program prepares future educators to become leaders in rural schools through community engagement, place-based learning and hands-on leadership experiences.