Warren Village School, a district of SAU 23, is a Pre-K to
Grade 8 school with 11 teachers, serving 62 students from Warren and Glencliff, N.H. Glencliff village is famous for its post office, a major supply stop for
hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The town of Warren is surrounded by the White
Mountain National Forest and is notable as having, within a stone’s throw of
the school, its own Redstone Rocket, the same kind of engine booster used to
hurl New Hampshire native Alan Shepard into space back in 1961—a very unique
sight for this small town! The 2018 US Census counted fewer than 1,000 people
in the community. Warren Village School ‘s partnership with TRRE demonstrates
synergy of shared goals focused on community, the theory and practice of
teaching and supporting students’ social emotional growth. In this story, TRRE
investigates the unique aspects of this partnership and how new hires and new
residents are making an impact on the small rural school.
Since signing a partnership agreement with TRRE in September
2018, the number of TRRE people in the school has grown to include two TRRE
graduates hired as full-time teachers and two current TRRE residents. Alayna
Signorello (Cohort 2, M.Ed. 2019) was hired in 2019 to teach grade 5 and will
teach grade 3 this year. Lauren Conner (Cohort 3, M.Ed. 2020), a recent TRRE graduate,
now teaches multi-age middle school science. The TRRE graduates are joined by
Cohort 4 residents Justin Avery and Cam Harrison who work with experienced
teaching mentors in grades 2 and 1, respectively.
What made these TRRE graduates and residents commit to
teaching in a rural TRRE partner school? TRRE is focused on place-based teacher
preparation in the context of rural partner schools. Alayna’s ideal school
experience, “the feeling that the school is the center of the community and the
center of town,” was personally very important to her in the hiring process. Lauren
has a passion for science and supporting children in STEM learning. Cam and
Justin are both avid hikers and outdoor people. Cam said, “The outdoors is an
incredibly important part of my life and it’s one of the driving factors behind
my decision to move to New Hampshire and join the TRRE program.” Justin joined
the program, in part, “to learn from UNH faculty and his teaching mentor the
educational concepts and practices that enhance new teachers’ ability to
positively impact the communities they serve.”
TRRE residents are supported at Warren Village School by teaching mentors Amber Kingsbury and Charlene Mathews. Amber also serves as an adjunct instructor for the elementary reading methods course the residents are taking this fall as part of their master’s degree requirements. TRRE graduates receive new teacher induction and mentoring from TRRE but also serve as an informal peer support system for one and other, as well as for the current residents. Principal Michael Galli said,
"I am very pleased to partner with the TRRE program. Just as medical students are placed in residencies to learn and practice their craft, TRRE students are paired with accomplished educators and immersed in the art of teaching on day one. This, in my opinion, is what all teacher education programs should do."
According to Tom Schram (UNH Associate Professor & TRRE
Director of Pedagogy and Clinical Experience), Warren’s partnership with the
TRRE program seemed a natural fit. “Warren Village School embodies the key
elements of close community connection, both within and beyond the school, a
caring and dedicated staff, and a forward-looking perspective on both academic
curriculum and the school’s role in meeting the social and emotional needs of
its children.”
Warren Village School states on its web page that it is
committed “to providing students with the academic foundation necessary to
develop a love for life-long learning,” just as TRRE seeks to instill a love of
life-long learning and a commitment to teaching. The partnership between Warren
Village School and TRRE is a match with the potential for a lasting impact!
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