Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/969549
challenges, as Monreal's example shows, there are distinct ben- efits as well. Read on to learn how several committed educators in rural communities find creative ways to give students a 21st century education. Small schools, big challenges California has one of the largest rural student populations in the U.S., with more than 220,000 students attending rural schools, according to the California County Superintendents Educa- tional Services Association. Teachers get invited to birthday parties, baptisms and graduations all the time. It's like family." — Christina Monreal Coalinga-Huron Unified Teachers Association Kindergarten students in Christina Monreal's class at Huron Elementary School. 25 A P R I L / M AY 2 018 Avenal High School agriculture teacher Ryan Fellows in the school's citrus fields with students Angeles Estrada and Javier Romero.