Catalyst Initiative: MSU's Appalachian Future Educators Program Update
Catalyst Grant recipients, Morehead State University, continue good work of the Appalachian Future Educators program.
Recently one of our Catalyst Initiative Participants, The Appalachian Future Educators Program at Morehead State University, which anchors RSC's Appalachian Hub, hosted an alum to share her experiences with current students looking to pursue a career in education. The article below, originally published on Morehead State University's website, interviews Dr. Christopher Beckham, Shannon-Doran Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership and director of the AFE Scholars Program, as he shares more about their event.
Stephanie Emmons (Class of 2006, 2008, 2012), principal of Fleming County High School (FCHS), shared her experience as a Kentucky educator with students in the Appalachian Future Educators (AFE) Scholars Program and students, faculty and staff in the Volgenau College of Education last month.
The event was sponsored by the Appalachian Future Educators Scholars Program and the Appalachian Regional Education Hub with support from MSU's Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education. It was made possible with funding from a Catalyst Grant from the Rural Schools Collaborative.
Emmons' presentation "Joys, Rewards, and Challenges of Being a Rural Educator" and the discussion provided insights into the challenges, demands and rewards of being a rural educator. She shared information about career pathways that have been established at FCHS over the last few years and how the changing landscape of K-12 education.
Emmons is a three-time graduate of MSU, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Universities Studies in 2006, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in 2008 and a Master of Arts in School Administration in 2012.
"Our AFE Scholars and other education students were excited to hear from Principal Emmons," said Dr. Christopher Beckham, Shannon-Doran Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership and director of the AFE Scholars Program. "Our students learned how resilient and innovative rural education can be, and to envision possibilities for their own classrooms as they pursue careers in education."
The AFE Scholars Program provides scholarships, support and mentorship for students from Eastern Kentucky who are interested in teaching. The program's purpose is to enhance the pipeline of qualified educators and educational leaders returning to the 22 counties in the MSU historical service region.
For more information about the event, the AFE Scholars Program, or the Appalachian Regional Education Hub, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/afe, or contact Dr. Christopher Beckham c.beckham@moreheadstate.edu.