Dr. Charlene Atkins
Missouri Regional Hub Contact - Warrensburg, MO
Dr. Charlene Atkins is a passionate advocate for rural education, deeply committed to supporting rural schools, educators, and students. Growing up in rural Fayette, Missouri, she experienced firsthand the strong sense of family and connection that rural schools provide. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in education, with a commitment to giving back to rural communities. She went on to teach mathematics for 15 years in small rural K-12 districts, embracing the many roles that rural educators often take on while building lasting relationships with students and their families.
Beyond the classroom, Charlene has been a strong voice for rural education, serving on state-level committees to ensure that rural schools have representation in broader educational conversations. Her leadership extends to professional organizations, having served as President of the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics, where she worked to advance mathematics education across the state. Additionally, she contributed to the development of computer science education in Missouri as a member of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Computer Science Standards Writing Team and Advisory Council, helping to shape policies that impact rural and urban schools alike. Her continued passion for rural education eventually led her to higher education, where she now serves as a professor of mathematics education at the University of Central Missouri, working with both future educators and current classroom teachers. In addition, she is the Coordinator of the Rural Schools Initiative in the College of Education at the University of Central Missouri.
Dr. Atkins' research interests include mathematics education, educational technology, and teacher education, with a particular focus on how these areas intersect in rural schools. Her work is driven by a lifelong love for rural living, where she enjoys the open spaces, strong communities, and horseback riding—reflecting the independence and resilience found in rural life.