A program using cultural anthropology and ethnographic techniques to prepare teachers for positions in the small elementary and secondary schools characteristic of the mountain west and high plains is presented. As part of this program, a freshman level education requirement introduces students to the special character and positive aspects of rural teaching. This is followed by a sequentially structured series of sophomore field experiences which require students to use applied anthropology skills to observe and record information on rural communities and schools. After the field experience, a joint decision by the student and faculty is made as to whether to pursue rural teaching. Students selecting this option are assigned a rural advisor and exposed to additional rural environments during their final two years of training. In addition, students may elect to take courses in rural teaching methodology and rural community adjustment. The Montana Rural Education Center, a service arm of Western Montana College, offers inservice training, resource acquisition, legal counseling, and a variety of other services to rural teachers. An anthropologist on the department of education staff acts as a program development observer. (LP)