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Rural scholarship program helps educators return home

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Four students in Missouri State University’s College of Education were selected to join the Ozarks Teacher Corps, a scholarship program created by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

With this award, students can return to their rural hometown or another rural setting to begin their teaching careers. 

Joining a rural initiative 

When accepted into the Teacher Corps, students commit to three years of teaching in any rural hometown post-graduation. The Teacher Corps scholarship enables students to continue their degree without financial pressure.  

The application and scholarship are open to all college juniors and seniors in the region. 

The Teacher Corps also offers professional development opportunities for the cohort, the latest of which was with Teton Science Schools in Montauk State Park.

The latest scholarship recipients from MSU are: 

  • Cierra Parker, a junior elementary education major 
  • Brooke Crumm, a senior elementary education major
  • Grace Reed, a senior elementary education major at the West Plains campus
  • Jordyn Sigman, a junior elementary education major at the West Plains campus

Crumm began at Missouri State in fall 2023 after gaining her Associate of Arts in teacher education at Ozarks Technical Community College. She is originally from Marshfield, Missouri. 

For Crumm, this is a personal gain as much as it is a professional one.  

“Returning home to teach is something I’m looking forward to because I understand the specific needs and culture of my community,” she said. “I want to give back to the community that shaped who I am today.” 

The importance of rural education 

Dr. Rhonda Bishop, co-director for the Center for Rural Education at Missouri State explained the importance of the program to communities.  

“The schools are the hub of the communities,” she said. “The impact teachers have on the parents and children they serve is incredibly powerful.” 

She described her own admiration for the students who wish to return to rural schools to teach.  

“I graduated from a rural high school and was a public educator in rural schools for 29 years,” she said. “To know we’re sending some of the best into rural situations is what makes me the proudest.” 

Learn more about the Center for Rural Education

On track to becoming a filmmaker

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Since he was 16 years old, Luke Goldston has wanted to make films. Thanks to Missouri State University’s Bear POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Work, Education and Resilience) program, he has begun to achieve his filmmaking dreams.

Bear POWER began in 2018 at Missouri State as a way to offer college experiences to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Goldston, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, joined the program in fall 2022, majoring in digital film and television production. This December, he will graduate. Although his time at Missouri State is ending, his filmmaking will continue to take him far.

“What I’ve most enjoyed about MSU is being with friends and making films with them,” Goldston said. “It has been a magical experience to not only improve my craft but also bond more with my friends.” 

According to Bear POWER director Dr. April Phillips, the support Goldston received from his peers, staff and faculty has enabled him to succeed.  

“As a Bear POWER student, Luke has overcome challenges and persevered in his quest to learn more about media and film,” she said. “We’re very proud of him and his work.” 

An outstanding achievement 

While at MSU, Goldston created “Springfield Stroll,” a short, independent film. It debuted on Oct. 6 at Moxie Cinema. The indie genre film was a 26-minute anthology of three people walking through different parts of Springfield: downtown, the MSU campus and Sequiota Park.  

Goldston was the film’s cinematographer, editor and producer. It starred Thade Yates, Charles Sargent and Cade Johnson. 

For this project, Goldston chose to follow the rules of Dogme 95. This is a filmmaking movement aimed at taking films back to the basics by excluding traditional production values like special effects and other technological enhancements. Another Dogme 95 rule is films must be shot on location.  

“It was fun to work within the rules of Dogme 95 and see what resulted. The actors also called it an interesting challenge,” said Goldston, who interns at the Moxie.  

He notes having his film on screen for the first time was an exhilarating experience.  

“Ethereal is how I would describe it,” he said. “The actors and I were more and more excited as we got closer to the premier.”

During Goldston’s time on campus, one of his favorite faculty members is Bobby Lewis from the department of communication, media, journalism and film. 

“He gave me so much important advice when it came to filmmaking,” Goldston said. 

Looking ahead with optimism 

Upon graduation, he plans to continue directing films and work in the art world.  

“My future plans are to get a job at either a theater, Vintage Stock, Barnes & Noble or a film happening in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I want to eventually make bigger and more complex films.” 

Goldston dreams of bringing awareness to personal hardship and invoking compassion through his films. 

“I want to continue to tell stories about personal struggles and obstacles that many people deal with daily,” he said. 

Learn more about Bear POWER

Student leader prepares to become special education teacher

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One Missouri State University student who will complete his undergraduate degree this December is senior Faron Haase. 

After studying at Missouri State since fall 2020, Haase will receive his bachelor’s degree in special education and a minor in literacy. He has made the most of his time at Missouri State and displayed genuine commitment to his community and students.   

On campus engagement 

Haase, a native of Joplin, Missouri, has taken on many roles during his time at the university. It might be easier to find a club or organization he has not been a part of.  

A few of the leadership hats he has worn include: 

Haase notes juggling his studies and extracurricular activities has helped him with time management.  

“It was hard to learn to delegate but also stay involved in all the things I wanted to do,” he said. “I just had to remember how much I enjoyed what I was doing, learn to prioritize and focus.” 

Mentorship from cooperating teachers

Faron Haase with his cooperating teacher Rachel McGowan
Faron Haase with his cooperating teacher Rachel McGowan

Haase chose special education because of his desire to help students with disabilities learn and thrive. He admits that he struggled with his classroom confidence initially, but his time at Missouri State has made him more comfortable.  

“I fought a lot of imposter syndrome as far as, ‘what gives me the right to come into a classroom and expect students to care what I have to say,’” he said. “My time in the College of Education has made me more confident in my ability to teach my students.” 

He is currently a student teacher in a ninth-grade special education classroom at Nixa High School with two cooperating teachers: Rachel McGowan and Lindsey Hamilton. Together, they teach English and mathematics. 

The three have formed a close friendship and built a lot of trust among them.  

“We can really feed off each other’s energy,” Haase said. “We know when we’re not having a good day and can talk to each other about anything.” 

He shares they even try to find ways to incorporate their humor and personality in their lessons.  

“When we introduced the budgeting unit, we performed a skit,” he said. “I explained I’m a college student, so I don’t have money, and Rachel prompted me with questions to get our points across.” 

Pursuing a master’s program 

Haase will continue his studies at Missouri State in the educational technology graduate program. His undergraduate classes shaped his interest in the field. 

“I took one course related to educational technology and performed the best I’ve ever performed in a class,” he said. “I spent a lot of extra time focusing on the class because I loved it.” 

His goal behind this specific degree path is to connect better with his students.  

“We live in a modern age and the new tech for education is expanding. I want to learn more about how to understand my students better,” he said. “That’s what technology in education does; it teaches the teachers how to reach students in ways humans can’t.” 

Although he only started working with his current students during student teaching, they mean the world to him. 

“My students mean everything – there’s no job without them,” he said. “They’re how I have a job that makes me happy. I’ve only been in this school for 12 weeks, but they’re part of me now.” 

Learn more about the College of Education

COE’s inaugural Scholarship Banquet recognizes students, donors and alumni

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The College of Education (COE) gathered on campus on April 4 to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the college and its members.  

Its inaugural Scholarship Banquet recognized scholarship winners, donors and faculty support.  

Fifty-three guests attended the banquet. Among them were Missouri State University President Clif Smart and his wife, Gail, Provost Dr. John Jasinski, Vice President for University Advancement Brent Dunn and Board of Governors student representative Bradley Cooper. 

During the event, COE Dean Dr. Barri Tinkler presented the college’s first Outstanding Alumni award to longtime educator Dr. Michael Fulton.  

Fulton’s impact on education 

Fulton received the award for his impact on schools in Missouri.  

Fulton attended Springfield Public Schools and graduated in 1982 from (then) Southwest Missouri State University with his bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Fulton also has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Illinois State University and a doctorate in education from St. Louis University.  

He taught in both the Bloomington Public Schools District (Illinois) and Clayton School District (Missouri). He then served as an administrator in the Pattonville School District (Missouri) for 23 years, working as superintendent for the last 11 years. 

During his tenure, the school system gained recognition at state and national levels for academic achievement. For his leadership, Fulton was named Missouri Superintendent of the Year in 2016. 

In 2018, he took on the superintendent role at the Shawnee Mission School District (Kansas), where he served for three years until his retirement. 

But Fulton never stopped working toward a better future for education. After retiring, he led a statewide effort to create a network supporting Missouri public schools in using a competency-based mindset to personalize learning, ensuring every student is prepared for high school, college, career and the workplace. 

Along with a team of collaborators that included the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Fulton created the statewide Success-Ready Students Network (SSRN).  

The network now comprises 95 school districts and 25 educational agencies and universities. 

Tinkler acknowledged Fulton as a worthy recipient of the college’s first Outstanding Alumni award and the bright future of the SSRN. 

“Dr. Fulton has started a movement in K-12 education in the state. I believe this work will continue to grow and it’ll have a significant impact,” Tinkler said. 

For more information or to support SSRN in its goals, visit its website. 

Explore programs in the College of Education

Graduating senior returns to hometown for teaching position

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Graduating Missouri State University senior and Marshfield native Michaela Bledsoe was excited to return home this semester for her student teaching duties. 

“I built such a great connection with this community and I wanted to continue that for my adult life,” said Bledsoe, an elementary education major.  

She always considered rural education the obvious career path for her. 

“The community offers so many ways to connect to students,” she said. “Whether it’s at sporting events, church or even just from their backyard, kids really enjoy seeing the same people in their small town.” 

Ozarks Teacher Corps supports rural education 

For the past two years as a student at Missouri State, Bledsoe has been a part of the Ozarks Teacher Corps (OTC).  

OTC is a scholarship run by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks that provides financial aid to future educators and helps put them in rural classrooms. OTC connects education students through professional development events, building a network of rural education leaders. 

She first heard about OTC from her academic advisor at Missouri State. As of 2019, OTC has a teacher-placement rate of 92%.  

Bledsoe found connecting with her peers through OTC an enriching experience. 

“It’s not just about my classroom; it’s about education as a whole,” she said.  

“We all have the desire to improve and teach the next generation of students. Being with people who are excited about kids and students is just so energizing.” 

A teaching job secured 

While Bledsoe’s time as a student teacher is ending with her graduation from MSU this May, her relationship with Marshfield R-I School District is not.  

It offered her a fifth grade teaching position starting this fall. 

“I’m so thankful I get to go back home for my first year of teaching, and hopefully for many more,” she said. 

Learn more about Elementary Education Programs