The Study of Rural Education with Dr. Amy Azano

Discover the often-overlooked world of rural education through the inspiring journey of Dr. Amy Azano, a passionate advocate and director at the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech. Growing up in a tight-knit community in the Shenandoah Valley, Amy developed a deep appreciation for the cultural richness and unique challenges of rural life. In our latest Learning Can’t Wait podcast episode, she shares her insights on the importance of advocating for equity and opportunities in rural education, celebrating the diversity within rural America, and creating inclusive educational environments. Join us as we explore how her work is bridging gaps and promoting equity, ensuring that every rural student has the chance to succeed.

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer continues her miniseries on rural education with Dr. Amy Price Azano, a professor at the School of Education at Virginia Tech and the founding director of Virginia Tech's Center for Rural Education. A large advocate of rural education, Dr. Price Anzno utilizes her upbringing in the Shenandoah Valley to fuel the important work she does for these districts.

Key Takeaways

• Appreciate the Cultural Richness of Rural Life: Amy's journey highlights the unique cultural elements and tight-knit community bonds in rural areas, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and valuing these aspects in rural education.
• Advocate for Equity and Opportunities in Rural Education: Ensuring that rural students receive the same quality of education and opportunities as their urban and suburban counterparts is crucial for promoting equity and bridging gaps.
• Celebrate Diversity Within Rural America: Rural spaces are diverse and multifaceted. Recognizing and celebrating this diversity is essential for creating inclusive educational environments that respect and nurture all students.

When you think of education, what comes to mind? Perhaps bustling urban schools or sprawling suburban campuses. But what about the often-overlooked rural schools? Dr. Amy Azano has spent all of her professional life bringing light to rural spaces and carving out resources for these districts. Her journey from a small rural town in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to becoming a leader in rural education is both inspiring and enlightening.

Growing Up Within Rural Education

Amy's roots in a small rural town in the Shenandoah Valley have profoundly shaped her perspective on education. Growing up in a tight-knit community, she developed a deep appreciation for the unique experiences and challenges that rural students face. Her upbringing, filled with distinctive cultural elements and community bonds, gave her a unique viewpoint on the world.

“When you grow up a particular way, you don’t know that that’s unique or that you’re really developing a superpower. You don’t know that you’re just growing up in a community or with your family. ” — Dr. Amy Price Azano

This realization of her unique background came later in life, particularly when she left her rural environment and noticed the cultural differences. Simple things like accents or common foods in her hometown highlighted the cultural richness of rural life, which she hadn't initially recognized as unique.

The Importance of Rural Education

For Amy, rural education is about opportunity and perspective. She believes it's a critical way to understand essential aspects of life, such as where our food, energy, and water come from. Rural education should not be an afterthought, and it is crucial to advocate for the needs and opportunities of rural learners, educators, and communities.

At the Center for Rural Education, the focus is on creating opportunities and experiences for rural learners. This advocacy ensures that rural students receive the same quality of education and opportunities as their urban and suburban counterparts, aiming to bridge gaps and promote equity.

“I think that in rural spaces, we sometimes have a little bit of a challenge of out of sight, out of mind. And so I think that that’s a lot of our work, that we are scholars and we’re researchers, but we’re also huge advocates. We’re advocates for the rural teachers that are doing the hard work, the principals and superintendents, and of course the learners that are in those rural schools and communities.” — Dr. Amy Price Azano

Addressing Equity and Diversity

A core mission of the Center for Rural Education is addressing the equity challenge in rural education. Amy's work has focused on youth talent development, particularly in identifying and nurturing the potential of young students from early on.

She also emphasizes the diversity within rural America, pointing out that rural spaces are far from homogeneous. Recognizing and celebrating this diversity is essential for creating inclusive educational environments that respect and nurture all students.

“A lot of my work has addressed not just the equity challenge, that there is an opportunity gap between rural and non-rural spaces, but also what can we do pedagogically? What can we do with a curriculum to make sure that we’re reinforcing that rural is important and rural is valued, and to embed that into the gifted curriculum.” — Dr. Amy Price Azano

Innovative Initiatives in Rural Education

Situated in Appalachia, the Center for Rural Education has become a home for many students of all levels. To put these principles into action, the Center for Rural Education has developed several innovative programs. One notable initiative is a summer camp for high-achieving rural middle school students, focusing on rural places. This program aims to show students that they can achieve greatness without needing to leave their rural environment.

“We’re in a beautiful part of southwest Virginia. And so if you haven’t thought about rural spaces before and then you find yourself living in southwest Virginia, you learn to care pretty quickly. And so it’s also an open and welcoming hub, I think, for those folks who find us as well.” — Dr. Amy Price Azano

The Center also offers a range of courses designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge needed to support rural students. These include courses in the foundations of rural education, rural education research, and policy. Understanding and addressing the unique needs and challenges of rural schools is at the heart of their work.

The Future of Rural Education

Looking ahead, Amy envisions a future where rural education is more prominently recognized and valued. She highlights the importance of community and resilience in rural spaces, drawing parallels between her experiences and those of others in rural environments worldwide.

The Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech was established with the goal of making a significant impact on rural education. By focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities in rural spaces, and advocating for equity and diversity, the Center aims to ensure that every student has the chance to succeed, no matter where they come from.

“We first launched the Center for Rural Education, we did so with a real intentionality of making sure that we had equity at the center of all of our work.” — Dr. Amy Price Azano

Conclusion

Amy's journey and her work at the Center for Rural Education serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of rural education. By recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities in rural spaces and advocating for equity and diversity, we can ensure that every student has the chance to succeed, no matter where they come from.

In rural education, it’s important to see the opportunities and be ready to be inspired every day. Despite the challenges, if one remains open to the unique beauty of rural communities, they will find success and fulfillment.

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