NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – Through a U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences grant of $3.9 million University of Oklahoma faculty will develop and test a coaching model to support rural schools’ educator development.
“We will design a professional development and coaching package that centers rural educators implementation of curriculum and supports the development of student wellness and academic achievement,” Brittany Hott, Ph.D., Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education professor of special education and associate director of the Institute for Community and Society Transformation, who is leading the research, said.
The grant was awarded to the Mineola School District in rural east Texas and includes four additional districts in Texas, comprising 1,200 students in kindergarten through fifth grade across the five districts.
“Often rural schools are left out of educational research, then asked to implement practices without any validation within their particular setting,” said Hott. “This is an opportunity for rural schools to be centered.”
Courtney Dewhirst, Ph.D., OU associate professor of early childhood education, another researcher on the project, highlighted one of the reasons rural school districts need this type of research and assistance when she mentioned the barriers to accessing resources for both rural teachers and families.
“Many rural schools serve a large percentage of children who experience trauma, poverty and inequity in access to educational resources. We hope to support child and teacher well-being in these areas,” she said.
Hott also mentions some of the unique challenges that rural, high-needs schools experience, including geographical isolation, which makes professional development for educators more difficult and costly and many rural teachers must serve in multiple, sometimes disparate roles. However, these schools also have distinct strengths.
“Rural schools serve about 30% of our country’s students, and there is often a strong sense of community. There's educator buy-in, and many rural schools act as the community hub,” she said.
Hott and Dewhirst, along with OU research scientists Robye Jackson, Ed.D. and Jacquelyn Purser, will develop a multi-tiered educator coaching program that leverages rural community strengths and considers rural context. Project partners include, along with the University of Oklahoma, Wood County Cooperative, Texas State University, and Committee for Children.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
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