School in Community, Challenges and Transformation: A Beginning Teacher Reflects on Experiences and Collective Histories in a Rural, Southern Ontario School

• Main Author: Nicholls, Rachael
• Other Authors: Knowles, J. Gary
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: poverty and schooling; rural and small-town education; reflexive inquiry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/25665

This research account centers on the life history-inspired narratives of engaged teachers, parents, and community members associated with King Albert Public School (KAPS). Since early 2000 to 2008 staff at KAPS collaborated with students, community parents, businesses, and organizations to meet the needs of students and to make positive connections within surrounding neighbourhoods. In the process KAPS witnessed substantial transformation. Paramount in connecting with the community was the construction of a new school gymnasium. KAPS became a hub for students, parents, and community. In the process of construction and subsequent use of the gym, the school itself developed a new sense of meaning in the community. As I navigate the process of becoming a teacher I use a reflexive inquiry approach to parallel my process of development to the transformation that occurred at KAPS. Also, this project contributes to the rural and small-town Ontario research literature on poverty and schooling.