The elementary school in Brothers, a small community in southeast Deschutes County, looks a lot like any other modern large classroom. There are desks with each student’s name taped to the top. A large library is split into two sections, with books for every reading level.

Large empty boxes sit at the back of the room, waiting to be painted and turned into props for the school’s upcoming Christmas program. The program will in part be a fundraiser for field trips, including an overnight trip at the end of the year.

The main thing that’s different is that as a one-room school in a rural area, Brothers Elementary has just six students for the year, ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade.

Jim Bates, principal and teacher, and his wife Stacy Bates trade off teaching days Monday through Thursday. Like other rural schools, Brothers Elementary has a four-day school week.

Jim Bates, 58, said, “For the whole first month, we worked together every day, just to get the year started and get me back in the teaching role.”

He was previously a principal for 16 years in various Crook County schools, so agreed to take on the administrative duties. Stacy Bates taught at Brothers Elementary last year as well, though this is his first year.

Far away from town

Part of Crook County School District, Brothers, on U.S. Highway 20, is 47 miles from Prineville, the district’s main city. Brothers is 42 miles east of Bend, and is surrounded by undeveloped land.

The school gym, also used for community events, is a separate building, and the original red schoolhouse is now used to store furniture and supplies. The days are long, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but attending Brothers Elementary means students don’t have to spend hours on the bus, commuting from their families’ ranches in rural Deschutes and Crook counties to Prineville.

“We try to structure it so they work hard, they play hard. And get some snacks,” said Jim Bates. “Same types of programs that students have in town, we have out here, same thing with our core programs, we just have more one-to-one time and face-to-face time with them.”

The day is structured in a series of small-group rotations, and students work independently as well. The day’s subjects range from writing, math and art to physical education.

“In my experience, and Stacy would say the same, it’s remarkable to work so closely with the students, because you know exactly what they’re gaining and what their needs are,” he said.

Unique needs

Jim Bates said he was pleased with how the district has supported Brothers Elementary, especially in recognizing that rural schools have unique needs.

Cindy Jones, secretary and instructional aide, said, “Truth is, if somebody needs a hand, whatever they’re doing (I’ll step in to help). That’s kinda how we work out here.”

Jones, 66, has been working at Brothers Elementary since January 2018.

“We’re not in the mainstream of things, so we are a little bit more of a home setting than we are a public school large setting,” she said. “These are kids that are very rural … when we have activities or when we’re doing things, a lot of things are exciting to them because they don’t do that kinda stuff often.”

Larry Jones, Cindy’s husband, is the bus driver and custodian and handles nutrition services with her. The students were excited when he brought out pizza for lunch before a field trip to a Prineville Christmas display.

“The kids are great, the families are fun to work with,” said Jim Bates. “Each of them come in with a real strong work ethic, and respect what their families expect them to bring to the classroom and it really shows.” 

Noeimi Arellano-Summer is a reporter for The Bulletin in Bend.