Impact

The Office of Rural Promise is made up of multiple data-driven grant program initiatives that are evaluated annually to assess progress toward goals, objectives, and performance indicators. Research-based strategies are used to improve outcomes in all the districts we serve.

Publications

Read recent publications from Office of Rural Promise staff.

• Teachers’ Initial Perceptions of Self-Directed Learning within a Teacher-Directed Professional Learning Program (Learning in the Professions)
  Dr. Rachel Nelson, Holly Weaver, Dr. James Beeler, Dr. Erin West, Sherry Paddie, Heather Childress, Dr. Katherine Chesnutt
  This study explores teachers’ perceptions of their experiences participating in self-directed learning (SDL) (Knowles, 1970; 1975). The teacher participants (n=127) were guided through an SDL framework for professional learning and reflected on their experiences. Results indicate teachers reporting increased autonomy and personalization compared with traditional professional learning opportunities.
• Campus Visits as Predictors of Postsecondary Enrollment in Low-Income, Rural Schools (GEAR UP)
  Corinne Smith, Dr. Ross Gosky, Dr. Jui-Teng Li
  The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between visits to college campuses by middle school and high school students and postsecondary enrollment rates, where campus visits are classified as both formal college visits and also informal campus visits. Specifically, Traditional Campus Visits and Educational Campus Field Trips are categorized as two distinct service types sponsored by the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant program in 11 rural, western North Carolina school districts.
• Micro-Credentials and Faculty Professional Development: Stories from the Field (Learning in the Professions)
  Tyrel Winebarger
  The authors of parts one and two of this opinion piece explore their work with MCs as a form of meeting PD requirements and offer advice to potential adopters on the utility of MCs for community college faculty.
• North Carolina schools are anything but ‘low-performing’ (Learning in the Professions)
  Dr. Rachel Nelson
  Our observations have allowed us to see first-hand that North Carolina educators and students are anything but “low-performing.” Having visited over 30 schools across 12 districts, our team witnessed much more than a dedication to provide North Carolina students with a “sound basic education.” The care and concern North Carolina’s educators have for their students was evident in every school we visited.
• Family Engagement Starter Kit for All (GEAR UP)
  Rebeca Figueroa & Katie Hill
  Created in collaboration with NCCEP’s Family Engagement Advisory Committee, Family Engagement Starter Kit for All  provides helpful information to improve your family engagement efforts.
• Empowering Educators: Four Stories of Advocacy and Purpose (Learning in the Professions)
  Holly Weaver, Sherry Paddie, Dr. Rachel Nelson, Dr. Rachel Shepherd
  This a narrative chapter in a book that features the work of a Navigator and the role of ed research in teacher advocacy.

Past Presentations

View prior presentations from Office of Rural Promise staff.