The first in her family to graduate from high school, Donna Taylor knew she wanted to help younger generations accomplish the same.
Bledsoe County born and raised, Ms. Taylor has been teaching English and drama at the local high school for 21 years. Growing up in poverty, she had little going for her beyond her high school classes, she said, and realizes it is probably the same for many of her students.
"I know what a difference teachers made in my life, and I know about what these students have going against them," she said.
A recent report by the Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington, D.C., says what Ms. Taylor has experienced for more than two decades: Teaching in a rural high school comes with a host of unique challenges.
Rural areas have more limited access to educational resources, and it's harder to recruit teachers, the report says.
In light of these potential weaknesses for rural schools, the alliance has included in its report a list of 10 ways to measure whether such a school is making the grade. Some of the items on the list jump out at her, Ms. Taylor said.
Bledsoe County High has some highly skilled teachers, she said, as well as plenty of personalized attention for the relatively small 500-student body. But like many similar schools, the challenges such as necessary resources and family involvement are hard to ignore, she said.
Fewer teachers at Bledsoe County High translates to fewer course offerings, Ms. Taylor said.
"By the time students are seniors, they feel like they've taken just about every elective we offer," she said.
Senior Lauren Ford, 18, said that even though her high school may not offer as many courses as a bigger campus would, the pros outweigh the cons.
"I don't necessarily feel I've been deprived of anything," she said. "I like walking down the hall and being able to smile and wave at everybody. It's like a family. I'm never alone."
Classmate Alyssa Morgan, 17, agreed.
"It's just simple," she said. "It's overall better to me."
Despite the student endorsements, Ms. Taylor said parental involvement is a constant struggle. During a night of parent-teacher conferences Thursday, she saw a grand total of three parents.
While there are obvious exceptions, Ms. Taylor said in the area's "culture of poverty," education is not a big priority.
ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL RURAL HIGH SCHOOL* College- and work-ready curriculum for all students* Personal attention for all students* Extra help for those who need it* Bringing the real world to the classroom* Family and community involvement* A safe learning environment* Skilled teachers* Necessary resources* User-friendly information for parents and the communitySource: Alliance for Excellent Education
"The kids get used to the system they're in. Sometimes their expectations for themselves are low," she said.
But the biggest issue facing Bledsoe County High isn't highlighted in the report, Ms. Taylor said.
"Whatever rules we adopt, the parents and students find ways to get around them. And the kids that don't show up are the ones who drop out," she said. "They want to hurry up and get on with their 'real life.'"
But it's not all bad news, Ms. Taylor said. In recent years, administrators at Bledsoe County High have tried to increase course variety, including a partnership with the local campus of Chattanooga State Community College in Dunlap, Tenn., to offer students college-level classes, she said.
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