In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, hosts Melissa and Ty interview Alyssa Cassels, the 2023 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Alyssa talks about her journey to becoming a rural band teacher in the small town where she grew up. She highlights some of the unique challenges of rural education, like long bus commutes for students, wearing many hats as a teacher, and lack of access to resources. However, Alyssa focuses on the positives of rural teaching, especially the close-knit relationships between teachers, students, and the whole community. Her favorite moments are when students show how invested they are in her success. Alyssa encourages teachers to consider rural positions for fulfilling experiences. She believes the advantages of rural teaching outweigh any disadvantages. The hosts emphasize the need for more support and opportunities in rural areas.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa and Ty as they speak with Kate Peake, a middle school English teacher at Patagonia School in rural Arizona. Kate shares her journey into education through Teach for America, which led her to teach in urban St. Louis before following her husband's career took her to rural Patagonia. Kate discusses the tight-knit community and natural landscapes that make teaching rural special, like getting to collaborate with local nonprofits and take students on field trips. She also talks about challenges like limited access to mental health services and transportation. Overall, Kate emphasizes the relationships formed through small class sizes and seeing students for multiple years in a rural setting allows impactful personalized learning.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa and Ty as they speak with Karen Estridge, a 7th grade English teacher at Holbrook Junior High School in rural Arizona. Karen shares her journey into education, from knowing she wanted to be a teacher since childhood to moving from Ohio to Arizona. She discusses the tight-knit community and cultural diversity that drew her to rural schools. Karen talks about the challenges of limited background knowledge and parent involvement, and how she overcomes them through building relationships. She emphasizes the importance of meeting social-emotional needs alongside academics. Ultimately, Karen feels teaching in a small rural setting allows her to make a lasting impact through personalized learning and deep connections.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Ty and Melissa as they speak with Dan Matchette, a math teacher at Tombstone High School in rural Arizona. Dan has a unique background, having spent 30 years in the Army as a telecommunications engineer before retiring and becoming a teacher. He shares his journey into education, the advantages and challenges of teaching in a small, rural school, and some of his proudest moments as an educator. Dan provides insight into building strong relationships and community in a rural setting, overcoming resource limitations, and opening students' eyes to the opportunities beyond their remote corner of the world. Tune in to hear one teacher's perspective on the rewards and difficulties of shaping young lives in a tight-knit, rural community.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa and Ty as they talk with Josh Adams, a high school science teacher and finalist for the 2023 Arizona Rural School Teacher of the Year award, who shares his journey to teaching and passion for serving students in the rural community of Page, AZ. He discusses the challenges of poverty, trauma, and attendance many of his Navajo students face, as well as the strong relationships and low behavioral issues he experiences teaching rurally. Adams highlights the natural beauty of Page and how he makes global connections for students through international trips. He wears many hats, including coaching sports, leading school clubs, and teaching AVID. Adams stresses the importance of checking biases and believing each rural student can achieve their dreams. He argues rural teachers have the advantage of building close bonds with students in safe, personal learning environments if they take the time to understand the community.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa and Ty as they talk with Jeremy Cabribas Gallardo, a top 10 finalist for the Arizona Rural School Association's Teacher of the Year. Jeremy teaches in Aguila, Arizona and has been in education for 18 years. She shares about her journey from growing up and teaching in Manila, Philippines to now teaching in a rural Arizona community. Jeremy talks about the strong sense of community she has found in rural schools and wears "many hats" as a teacher - from leading the student council to mentoring new teachers. She also discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching English Language Learners, as well as the importance of character education. Jeremy offers advice to encourage future teachers to consider rural schools for the passionate students they will find there.

Join us to hear how Jeremy is making a difference in her rural school community. She provides perspective on the rural advantage and proudest moments from seeing her students pursue careers based on her encouragement years ago. Jeremy reflects on what keeps her up at night - continuing effective character education and English Language Learning.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Hosts Dr. Melissa Sadorf and Ty White interview Harlee Harvey, the 2022 Alaska Teacher of the Year. Harlee teaches 1st grade in the remote village of Point Hope, Alaska.

Harlee discusses her journey into rural Alaskan education, including the culture shock and steep learning curve. She shares strategies like stepping back to let students teach about their own culture, partnering with the community, and remaining open-minded. She also provides an inside look at the challenges of high teacher and administrator turnover in rural Alaska. She explains how funding impacts resources, pay, and retention.

Harlee gives an inspirational look at the beauty of tight-knit communities and lifelong student connections that rural teaching allows. Her story emphasizes the need for teacher training, cultural awareness, and funding to best serve rural schools.

Trainual helps school administrators by providing a digital platform for employee manuals and process documentation. Get 10% in your first year by using offer code RURALSCOOP at checkout. Go to https://trainual.com go get started!

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Rural Scoop hosts Ty and Melissa as they speak with Chad Warnick, the 2023 Utah Teacher of the Year. Chad teaches agricultural education at Delta High School, the same rural high school he attended. He shares how agricultural education and FFA helped build his confidence as a teen. Chad discusses the advantages and challenges of teaching in a rural community, including strong community and parent involvement. He highlights the hands-on learning opportunities through FFA, including the school farm Chad helped establish that has become an invaluable community asset. Chad advocates for the importance of career and technical education for all students, in developing problem-solving and marketable skills. He reflects on the rewarding teacher-student relationships built over 4 years in a small town.

Trainual helps school administrators by providing a digital platform for employee manuals and process documentation. Get 10% in your first year by using offer code RURALSCOOP at checkout. Go to https://trainual.com go get started!

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa as she talks to Dr. Kellie Burns. Kellie is the District Executive Officer of the Yavapai Accommodation School District, an alternative school nestled in the heart of Prescott, Arizona. She recently earned her Doctorate with Northern Arizona University after a successful defense in researching disconnected youth in rural communities. Dr. Burns serves on five professional boards which include the Arizona Alternative Education Consortium, the Forest Fees Management Board, the Yavapai County Education Foundation, the Arizona Alternative Technical Advisory Committee (AATAC) and is currently the President of the Arizona Correctional Educators, Inc. Come get the Scoop on an issue that is present in almost every rural community across the state, and learn what the research says about how we can re engage them. 

Trainual helps school administrators by providing a digital platform for employee manuals and process documentation. Get 10% in your first year by using offer code RURALSCOOP at checkout. Go to https://trainual.com go get started!

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa and Ty as they talk with Nanette Hanson, proud Upper and a rural Teacher of the Year! Nanette Has 20 plus years of varied teaching experiences in several teaching positions from alternative high school through first grade. Each position has offered her ample opportunities to become a better educator, leader and mentor. For the last 18 years, Nanette has taught first-grade at Lemmer Elementary School in Escanaba, Michigan. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Northern Michigan University. Building strong relationships with each one of her students so they know school, and her classroom are safe spaces where they can learn and explore is Nanette’s biggest responsibility as an educator. She tries to create a strong sense of community, respect and belonging in her classroom. A room where both students and the teacher work together to uncover learning in an authentic and meaningful way. Nanette strives to cultivate an atmosphere of excellence both in the classroom and with her colleagues. Mentoring new teachers allows Nanette to help mentees navigate through elements of their new professional lives and offers them tools and support to be successful educators. Nanette also works as a team leader of the Leader In Me Lighthouse Team. This team works to coordinate a school-wide leadership model to promote the Leader In Me principles and connect them to the school’s vision. Come get the Scoop on a rural teacher that aspires to provide a positive learning experience that advocates for young learners, their families and works toward equity and access for all.

Trainual helps school administrators by providing a digital platform for employee manuals and process documentation. Get 10% in your first year by using offer code RURALSCOOP at checkout. Go to https://trainual.com go get started!

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081