UBCO helps rural schools improve student education

B.C.’s rural schools may be small in size, but they can be big in ideas and creativity.

That is why UBC Okangan (UBCO) is working with and helping rural educators from across the province to bring about new ideas to strengthen small secondary schools.

On May 16 and 17, UBCO’s Faculty of Education hosted the Small School Think Tank (SSTT), a two-day event where educators come together to find a way to forward learning opportunities for rural community schools.

“When we look at what rural and small secondary schools offer the province, we see examples of innovation, creativity and community partnership,” said co-chair of the BC Rural Education Advisory Committee and assistant professor of education at UBCO, Leyton Schnellert.

“Events like the SSTT hold the potential to affirm and strengthen powerful local practices and structures and inspire schools in BC to generate their own creative solutions.”

Educators from 15 B.C. school districts joined in the event, using a small rural case study school to help promote change across the province. This year looked at Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft, B.C.

Teachers from rural schools get the opportunity to respond to the case study and find ways to continue to ensure the curriculum is taught and bringing out the best of their students.

“Rural schools exemplify good teaching because teachers are able to form close bonds with students,” explained Superintendent of Graduation and Student Transitions, Jan Unwin.

“Engagement is something that we would like to highlight in the new curriculum."

Some of the solution from the 2016 think tank included inviting community members into the schools to see the new ways of learning, while supporting students unique in interest as they move into grades 10, 11 and 12.

“Part of our work is to help parents understand that their kids are receiving a great education in our small interdisciplinary program,” said principal of Desert Sands Community School, Colleen Minnabarriet.

“Being part of the SSTT is a huge help because of the thoughtful input of others and the credibility of UBC as an institute of higher learning.”

Since 2002, there have been more than 250 school closures in British Columbia. Many of the closures have been in rural areas.