I’m currently sitting in my childhood living room while my three kids play with their uncles’ assortment of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars collected over a couple decades. Sometimes it’s collaborative; sometimes it’s not. The youngest frequently breaks off to play in the 30-year-old Playskool kitchen we all used at my Mamaw and Papaw’s house. Occasionally, Mr. 20 Months will pull an ornament I made in third grade off the tree and come show me that the picture on it is of me. He routinely points out everywhere I am in this house, and it brings back so many memories. I am here, and (at least in part) here is me.
And I exhale slowly.
Just hours ago, my oldest and I completed our yearly family album that we gift to my husband each year. It was fun looking back at all of the fun things we did together this year. It also reminded me to take stock of all the joy that resides in the more professionally situated moments of this year.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back on the farm—to look out the window and see field and forest and farm equipment. Moving back to the Hoosier state has to be one of my favorite things in a list of favorite things that have happened this year. Here is an abbreviated collection of those things (in no particular order).
#1
Moving back to Indiana – I was made of and for this place, I think. Even the cold weather hasn’t kept me from our daily 3 mile walks. Visiting and feeding the cows down the road from my parents’ place, exploring the creek and trails near our new house, and visiting all of my family makes all the challenge and stress and frustration of moving totally worth it.
#2
Getting approval for TRAELLE – I have yearned for a rural community within NCTE for years. With the help of Rebekah Buchanan and other colleagues, we finally have one! The To-Do List is long, but I’m excited to get started on all that work in the New Year. Keep your eyes peeled for a TRAELLE website, to learn more about our officers, and announcements of projects in the works. Sign up to be in the know here.
#3
Winning an ALAN Foundation Grant for my work with Rural YA Literature – I’m excited to be working on a project that will hopefully foster rural/urban coalition building. We’re all in this together after all. I have applied to so many grants, and this is the first one I’ve gotten. I’m grateful for my rural tenacity and refusal to give up.
#4
Interviewing so many amazing rural YA authors and winners of the Whippoorwill Award for Rural YA Literature – The passion these folks have for making sure that rural young people have stories that serve as mirrors for them and work to disrupt stereotypes is so inspiring.
#5
Publishing in JLR – This was definitely a career bucket-list item for me, and mostly because rural education isn’t often included in mainstream academic journals. I’m so proud of the work that Rachelle Kuehl and I did with this piece about narratives of leaving, staying, and returning to rural places.
#6
Being a guest on Read Appalachia (!) and collaborating with Kendra Winchester to bring folks rural kidlit recommendations. I respect Kendra’s work so much and can’t believe I got to be on the podcast.
#7
Being part of the AERA Rural Education SIG’s JEDI webinars and editing my first issue of their newsletter – Yet another group of people so committed to rural education. I love seeing all the important work folks are doing.
#8
Publishing my research monograph – Country Teachers in City Schools. I am so happy and excited that I got to share the important and powerful stories of the teachers who graciously agreed to work with me. We need to talk and think more about how the transaction of rural/urban places shapes teaching and learning for both in- and out-migrants, and I’m glad I got to be part of that conversation in this way.
#9
Including other voices in the Book Talk episodes of Reading Rural YAL – I’m so excited that other folks want to chat with me about rural books and that they do such an amazing job of it. I look forward to continuing this trend/segment of the podcast. If you’re interested in joining me, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
#10
Getting to interview *the* George Ella Lyon. Yes, that George Ella Lyon, of “Where I’m From” fame. Y’all ELA teachers know what I’m talkin’ ’bout. I know I haven’t posted our conversation yet, but consider this your heads up that one is coming. George Ella is delightful and I can’t wait for you to be able to join us in this upcoming bonus episode.
I consider myself charmed that there are so many other things I could’ve listed here. But I thought that 10 was a nice round number. Thanks to all of you for reading, for sharing in this work, for caring about rural people and culture and communities, for joining me in the work of nuancing depictions and definitions of rurality. I’m grateful that you’re here on the journey with me. I’m looking forward to what 2024 will bring.
May your days be merry and bright,
Chea
Dr. Parton's Literacy In Place 