Rural Thrive:

The Rural Educator Resilience Project

All rural educators deserve to thrive

A map of Maine showing connections between different communities.

Early Career Support

Most early-career educators (years 1-3) need support in similar areas, regardless of where and what subjects or grade levels they teach. Learning about classroom management, where to find resources, managing the needs of diverse learners and developing a professional network is usually done by connecting with other novice teachers and with veterans who serve as mentors. Rural Thrive has two initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of these teachers: Rural THRIVE Foundations and the Rural Substitute Teaching and Innovation Corps (RuSTIC). Learn more about each of these programs below.

Thrive Foundations

Rural THRIVE Foundations supports early-career teachers across Maine as they build strong, sustainable teaching practices, connect with a supportive community and grow into their professional identity so they can stay, thrive and continue in the work. THRIVE Foundations connects early-career teachers with each other and with experienced educators across districts and facilitates targeted learning and reflection. THRIVE Foundations is open to K-12 public school teachers in Maine who have less than three years of experience as classroom teachers as well as experienced teachers who support them.

Program Options

For more detailed descriptions of each program, click on one of the drop downs below.

  • The Guided Trail is open to early-career teachers who did not participate in Foundations in 2025 and to both returning and new Guides (experienced teachers).
  • The Campfire Community is open to returning Fellows/Novices and Guides (including Compass Team members).

One of the most effective ways to support early-career educators is through the close guidance of an experienced colleague. The Guided Trail is at its core a partnership between a novice teacher (THRIVE Fellow) and an experienced teacher (THRIVE Guide). Fellows and Guides are matched as closely as possible based on grade level, and for secondary teachers, subject matter expertise. Fellows are typically matched with Guides who are not in their own district to help support the development of broad perspectives and networks. Fellowship teams meet virtually on a weekly schedule to debrief recorded observations, co-plan, and discuss the successes and challenges of the school year. Monthly, virtual gatherings with other Guides and Fellows and in-person Rural THRIVE Foundations Retreats provide additional opportunities to reflect, connect and grow professionally. Participants in The Guided Trail receive:

  • Professional learning grounded in real classroom practice
  • $1,000 stipend
  • 60 Contact hours

The Campfire Community is a space for continued connection, shared learning, and mutual support among THRIVE Fellows who have completed the Guided Trail and experienced THRIVE Guides. There are several options with varying levels of engagement:

Inquiry Circles: One experienced Guide collaborates with 3-4 returning Fellows in self-directed cycles of inquiry. Inquiry Circles do not follow a curriculum, but participants are encouraged to include recorded observations from their practice when possible.

  • Circles meet virtually once a month as a group, with additional one-on-one virtual meetings between the Guide and each Fellow roughly four times per academic year.
  • Guides and Inquiry Circle Fellows are expected to attend the spring Rural THRIVE Foundations Retreat. 
  • Inquiry Circles are open to a limited number of returning Fellows within two years of completing the Guided/Community Trail. This includes Fellows who will have more than three years of classroom teaching experience.
  • Inquiry Circle Guides and Fellows are also welcome to participate in Challenge Circles.

Inquiry Circle Stipends and Contact Hours: Guides will receive $500 per semester, for a total of $1000 annually, and about 30 total contact hours. Inquiry Circle Fellows will receive $150 per semester, for a total of $300 annually, and about 15 total contact hours. (Additional contact hours for retreat attendance).

Reading Circles: Small, collaborative groups explore books on topics or teaching roles, led by experienced Guides.

  • Reading Circles meet virtually about four times during the academic year. Each meeting lasts about an hour.
  • Reading Circle Guides are expected to attend the spring Rural THRIVE Foundations Retreat. Fellows participating in Reading Circles are encouraged to attend.
  • Reading Circles are open to all Fellows who complete the Guided Trail through their fifth year of teaching.  
  • Reading Circle Guides and Fellows are also welcome to participate in Challenge Circles.

Reading Circle Stipends and Contact Hours: Guides will receive $150 per semester, for a total of $300 annually, and about eight total contact hours. Reading Circle Fellows will receive about eight total contact hours. (Additional contact hours for retreat attendance).

Challenge Circles: Fellows bring dilemmas from their practice and collaboratively analyze them using structured protocols, facilitated by Guides and returning Fellows.

  • Challenge Circles meet virtually about six times during the academic year and are open to all Campfire Community members.
  • Challenge Circles are led by experienced Guides and supported by facilitating Fellows.
  • Challenge Circle Guides are expected to attend the Rural THRIVE Foundations Spring Retreat. Facilitating and returning Fellows participating in Reading Circles are encouraged to attend.
  • Challenge Circles are open to all Returning Fellows through their fifth year of teaching.  

Challenge Circle Stipends and Contact Hours: Guides will receive $125 per semester, for a total of $250 annually, and about six total contact hours. Facilitating Fellows will receive $75 per semester, for a total of $150 annually, and about six contact hours based on participation, up to three per semester. (Additional contact hours for retreat attendance).

THRIVE Guides are experienced educators who coach and support Fellows (novice educators) on their teaching journeys. Guides are teachers with at least five years of experience as a K-12 teacher, strong instruction and classroom management skills, and high emotional intelligence. Current Guide opportunities include:

The Guided Trail

  • Mentor and coach an early-career teacher.
  • Time commitment of about 60 hours/year.
  • $2,000 stipend and contact hours.

Inquiry Circles (Returning Guides only)

  • Collaborate with three to four experienced Fellows to explore teaching practice and reflect on classroom experiences.
  • Time commitment of about 30 hours/year.
  • $1,000 stipend and contact hours.

Reading Circles (Returning Guides only)

  • Dive into teaching-focused books with experienced Fellows and University of Maine faculty.
  • Time commitment of about 10 hours/year.
  • $300 stipend and contact hours.

Challenge Circles (Returning Guides only)

  • Facilitate a problem-solving session for experienced Fellows.
  • Time commitment of about six hours/year.
  • $250 stipend and contact hours.

If you’re unsure what program you can participate in, or want to talk about your options, please email Rural THRIVE Mentor Teacher In Residence, Laura Bean, laura.bean@maine.edu, or fill out the interest form below.

Thrive Foundations Interest Form

Rustic

RuSTIC is the Rural Substitute Teaching and Innovation Corps. This program connects undergraduate students interested in getting rural teaching experience with rural schools in need of substitute teachers. For example, each time one of Rural Thrive’s programs take in-service teachers out of their classrooms, we match preservice teachers from the UMaine College of Education and Human Development or one of our partner teacher preparation programs with those teachers’ classrooms to provide coverage for the day. RuSTIC participants get hands-on substitute teaching experience. In addition, members of the Rural Thrive team help RuSTIC students through their substitute teaching application, provide guidance about what to expect before they cover a classroom, and debrief the experience afterward. Partner districts benefit from the program as it broadens their substitute pool, since students who participate are more likely to sub in the district again if they are needed. If you would like to participate, click below to fill out our interest form.

Rustic Interest Form

In addition to gaining valuable teaching experiences, preservice education majors who participate in RuSTIC get the following benefits:

  • Daily substitute teaching pay rate in the assigned district
  • Mileage covered by the University of Maine
  • A $100 honorarium from Rural Thrive
  • Assistance with the substitute teaching application in the assigned district

Rural Thrive aims to offer RuSTIC Days one to two times per semester, which involves a full-day commitment to substitute in your assigned district. Every attempt is made to match you with a class that is within your major/area of interest. Fill out our interest form above and when the next RuSTIC Days are announced, we will reach out to you about participating.

Contact us

Ready to learn more about Thrive Foundations?

Send an email to Mentor Teacher in Residence Laura Bean, laura.bean@maine.edu.

Ready to learn more about RuSTIC?

Send an email to Rural Thrive Project Leader Catharine Biddle, catharine.biddle@maine.edu.