Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1297492
B y A m a n d a T u r n e r Under big skies, with sweeping prairies and a population of 50, the ranching community of Crowheart, Wyoming, is the embodiment of the American West. It's the kind of place with the rugged, rural beauty that makes us all proud to call Wyoming home. Crowheart Elementary School currently serves six students, ranging from Pre-K to third grade. Rural schools like Crowheart have come under fire in recent years, as some lawmakers advocate the closure of small- town Wyoming schools as a means of reducing education spending. Four Natrona County schools closed permanently in 2018. With our state now plagued by massive budgetary shortfalls, it stands to reason that rural schools will be vulnerable, as lawmakers continue to argue that funding cuts can solve Wyoming's education budget crisis. Sheryl Epp is the only teach er at Crowheart Elementary. Having taught for 31 years, first in Dubois and Green River, Sheryl has now been at Crowheart for ten years. "Our school is a staple of our community," Sheryl told WEA News. Without Crowheart, students would be forced to bus upwards of an hour each way to school. "Kids need to be spending their time learning, and then at home playing and spending quality time with their families," said Epp, "not sitting on a bus." Sheryl says, not only are rural schools like Crowheart essential to students for geographical reasons, but they also provide a unique learning experience for students. "The multi-age setting is way different than a traditional setting," she said. "Our lessons are so integrated, and we get very deep; we're not just covering the standards—we're diving into them." Sheryl hopes to retire in 2022. She hopes that Crowheart Elementary will continue to be afforded the opportunity to serve students and families in her rural community long after her retirement. She hopes that her school will remain a staple of Crowheart, without coming under fire because the state is facing financial woes. "If a student starts in preschool here, I have that student for five years, and it becomes a family-like experience. I teach sibling s in the same class at the same time," said Epp. "Many Wyoming towns are small, and each of them is unique. Rural schools are the best way to serve the needs of students and families in our rural communities. We should be proud of our rural schools, and we should do everything in our power to preserve them." SCHOOLING WYOMING S M A L L - T O W N Caption: Top & bottom: Crowheart Elementary School. Middle: Sheryl Epp working in her classroom. 30