In this week’s episode, we talk with Courtnee Justice, an esteemed rural educator hailing from Emery School District, teaching at the high school level. Courtnee sheds light on both the joys and challenges of teaching within a close-knit rural community where everyone knows each other and their pets. Courtnee shares how she used her voice to influence legislators by speaking up for a pending bill that would provide scholarships for teachers pursuing master’s programs. She shares the impact such a bill would have in a rural setting and brings fresh insight to this and other policy issues, underscoring the importance of legislators including rural perspectives in all their policymaking. Tune in to hear Courtnee emphasize the importance of speaking up. Rural voices matters, and educators in rural districts (or any district) play a pivotal role in fortifying our schools and strengthening legislation.
Layout:
Beginning 5 Minutes - Intro, Day at the Hill, Introducing Courtnee Justice, & John Arthur’s Info Drop
The Next 12 Minutes - The Heart of the Conversation (Pros & Cons of Being a Rural Educator, Concurrent Enrollment & Scholarships, & Looping)
The last 4 Minutes - Reflection, Takeaways, and Wrap-up
Guest on Episode:
Courtnee Justice (@english_justus5) -- ELA Teacher, Emery School District
Additional Resources:
Go to le.utah.gov to find more information on who your legislator is and to learn more about different bills in sessions.