The people who were involved in the rural schools of Nodaway County were the teachers, students, and parents. When compared to the students who lived in town, the rural students had a distinct school experience. They either walked, rode horses, or drove vehicles in order to get to school. Since Nodaway County is an agricultural area, the school schedule was dictated by the planting and harvest seasons. The one-room schoolhouses only taught students through eighth grade. If a rural student wanted to go further in their education, they had to travel daily or move to town. 

 

Teachers and parents worked along side one another to provide an education for the children of the area. Some of the parents even served as board members for their district. The parents often helped get ready for each new school year by cleaning up the schoolhouse and the yard. Even with this support, the teachers had some difficulties to deal with in the classroom. Teaching all eight grades at once meant the teachers could not be one-on-one with all the students. The older students had to help the younger students on occasion. Teachers also had many other duties such as being the janitor, nurse, and recess supervisor.