I spent the last week in Tyrrell County, NC. The town of Columbia goes back and forth being the smallest and second smallest school system in the state. The week long visit was a requirement for rising senior teaching fellows. You are required to pick a county from a list and then spend a time getting in depth knowledge about the behind the scenes work in school systems. I hoped that my county was on the list, but took the next closest one.
I was not looking forward to spending the first week of summer break in a school system. The first day, I woke up at 6:00 so I could drive the hour drive and get there on time. I was very surprised at the greeting I got. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction was the one who organized our trip and I was greeted by her with a huge goody bag full of neat things. I found out that there was only one other teaching fellow going through this experience with me. We met and started to talk like old friends.
I was shocked at how much I was enjoying the trip. Monday we spent time in the high school and met with the Superintendent. Tuesday we went to the 4H center and Somerset Plantation. I had been to Somerset when I was younger and it was nice to visit again. Wednesday we walked the boardwalk, went to the old theatre that acts as a museum, and went to an after school program. Thursday was dedicated to the Elementary school and middle school. Friday we met with the transportation man (thats right one man) and the maintenance man (again, one man).
This school system is extremely small. The middle and high school share a campus, a media center, a gym, cafeteria, art room and teacher, music room and teacher, and vocational classes. Even though the system in tiny, it is not small on charm. Everyone there is extremely nice and helpful. I felt comfortable talking with random teachers or administrators. They all expressed a love for their small town and explained that they new all the children's names as well as their parents. The administrators pride themselves on being supportive of the teachers.
OH! I almost forgot. This little down-home school system has a SMART board in every single classroom. There are 5 laptop carts at the middle and high school campus and 3 at the elementary campus. There are 5 computer labs total between the 3 schools. Technology is not lacking!!
I believe that when I graduate college, I will definately put in an application to teach in Tyrrell County. I would love to be a part of such a tight-knit community.
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Awesome! Sounds like you've experienced the old adage that "looks can be deceiving"! Small town living def. has its perks and I'm very impressed with the level of technology that they have. That is unusual and a testament of their commitment to teaching 21st Century learners!
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