The OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship, a collaboration between Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) and Ohio University Regional Higher Education (RHE), is a catalyst for transformative change in rural Appalachian Ohio. This initiative recognizes that successful students, thriving businesses, and strong communities are interconnected- and that educators play a pivotal role in bridging these elements.
Since its 2021-22 pilot, the Fellowship has empowered rural educators to develop Community and Career Connected Learning projects. These projects tackle real community challenges by leveraging regional assets, embedding career awareness, and integrating hands-on, place-based learning into classrooms.
3 Year Fellowship Structure:- Fellows receive a $1,000 dollar stipend for year one and a mentor, with the option of renewing their fellowship for two additional years. Fellows explore assets within their community and develop a process for creating a Community and Career Connected Learning project.
- The second year of the fellowship provides continued mentorship and a $1,000 stipend for continued work on a Community and Career Connected Learning project.
- The third year of the fellowship provides continued mentorship, seed funding for honing a Community & Career Connected Learning project, and the potential for internship support via an Ohio University teacher in training.
OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship participation includes creation and implementation of a Community and Career Connected Learning project and opportunities to share about your work, as well as participation in the following:
- Wednesday, September 9th 2026 (5-7pm) : In-Person RTF Kickoff Event at Ohio University Eastern Campus in St. Clairsville, OH
- (OPTIONAL) Friday, September 18th 2026 (9am- 3pm): BB2C Community & Career Connected Learning Summit at Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) in Marietta, Ohio
- October 2026 - March 2027 (Evening TBD): A series of 3 virtual workshops
- Tuesday, May 4th 2027 (5-7pm): In-Person Closing Celebration at BB2C Epicenter in Marietta, OH
- Monthly virtual and/or in-person mentor meetings (September 2026 - May 2027)
To be eligible for the OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current PK - 12th grade teacher
- Work in Appalachian Ohio or Fairfield County (OU Lancaster's Branch Campus service region)
- Passionate about Community & Career Connected Learning
*Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and close on Friday, July 10th 2026. Applicants can expect decisions to be announced no later than by the end of July 2026.
