Description
Diversity is on the rise in classrooms across the United States. However, there's a significant gap in preparing rural Appalachian pre-service teachers to meet the challenges of this changing landscape. These educators face a lack of training opportunities in diverse environments due to the limitations of their geographical location and available resources. As a result, they may enter the education field without the necessary cultural competence to effectively engage with a diverse student body. This disparity in experience and understanding can lead to unequal educational outcomes for students and hinder the development of inclusive learning environments.
Creating Diverse Experiences for Rural Appalachian Pre-Service Teachers provides a comprehensive solution to this challenging issue. It offers a detailed account of how a small Midwest university, in collaboration with the local community, addressed the problem by creating a symbiotic relationship that enriches the educational experiences of both pre-service teachers and students. This groundbreaking partnership not only expands the pre-service teachers' understanding of diversity but also enhances the academic and social-emotional support provided to pre-k-12 students at the center.
Author's/Editor's Biography
Kimberly Cassidy
Kimberly Cassidy is an assistant professor at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. She is also the director of graduate studies at the School of Education, director of early childhood programs and early childhood special education programs. Dr. Cassidy earned her PhD in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. She also earned her Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from East Tennessee State University. Dr. Cassidy has an EdS in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee and a Bs degree in Business Management with a Concentration in Marketing from Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Dr. Cassidy's research interests are Implementing Yoga in the Classroom for Cognitive Stimulation for Self-Regulation and Attributional Retraining, The Risks and Challenges of Grandparents as Primary Caregivers, Co-Teaching in the Classroom for Increased Rigor and Multi-Perspective Learning, and Using Scenario-Based Dialogue in the Classroom for Strategic Thinking and Rigorous Instruction.