Appalachia
Our Appalachia Regional Hub is led by Morehead State University and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, in collaboration with the National Rural Education Association, and covers the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
Morehead State University
Morehead State University has a robust history as a rural-serving teacher preparation institution, and continues to expand vital rural teacher preparation efforts. Dr. April Miller, Dean for the College of Education at Morehead State University, serves as the primary contact for Kentucky in the Appalachia Regional Hub.
Morehead State University’s (MSU) work in preparing teachers to serve the region is longstanding; it began as a normal school, or an institute exclusively to train educators. Joining as a part of RSC’s Appalachia Hub in 2020, Morehead State’s commitment to rural education exemplifies dedication to building strong, resilient rural communities. Morehead State University shares Appalachia hub leadership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
To expand opportunities for teacher candidates, the MSU Ernst & Sara Volgenau College of Education created the MSUTeach pathway. This program offers the opportunity for STEM students to receive a teaching certification along with their Bachelor of Science degree. Most students in the program are from Eastern Kentucky, and training STEM graduates to teach enables those teaching candidates to return to their home communities, certified and confident, to begin teaching careers.
MSU was also the recipient of RSC’s 2021 Catalyst Initiative Grant funding to spur the development of their own rural teacher corps effort. The University used its planning grant to roll out the Appalachian Future Educator Scholarship Program. This program recruits students from MSU’s 22-county service region in eastern Kentucky, and provides them with a scholarship, mentoring opportunities, and other support as they progress toward becoming teacher educators in rural Kentucky. This enhances the pipeline of qualified educators and educational leaders by strengthening partnerships with school districts in identifying, recruiting, and mentoring students from the region to return to their home communities as rural teacher-leaders.
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga School of Education
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga a leader in fostering impactful rural collaborations at the local, regional, and national levels. Dr. Allen Pratt, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and the Interim Co-director for the UTC School of Education, serves as the primary contact for Tennessee in the Appalachia Regional Hub.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Education (UTC) has a strong track record of supporting rural schools and education. In addition to serving as an anchor for rural communities of the southern Appalachian Mountains, UTC also plays host to RSC partner National Rural Education Association. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga shares Appalachia hub leadership with Morehead State University.
Dr. Allen Pratt, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and the Interim Co-director for the School of Education, reflects the results of this collaboration: “This partnership has allowed us to bring opportunities to rural districts in the area that they may not have seen from UTC in a while. That ability to meet their needs and what they’re looking for fits into how we’re sharing this work as a rural teacher hub.”
Tennessee has captured well-earned national spotlight in recent years for how colleges, universities, schools, and educators have embraced new approaches to education in the post-pandemic space. Some of these hallmarks include Tennessee’s first-in-the-nation Teacher Apprenticeship Occupation programs and effective support mechanisms assisting students’ academic recovery since 2020. This includes the University of Tennessee System’s Tennessee Grow Your Own (GYO) Center, which establishes GYO Hubs at each of the four UT schools, including Chattanooga. Learn more about what’s happening in our Appalachia Hub below.
Spotlight
Appalachian Future Educator Pioneers Place-Based Literacy Research
Gwen, a rising sophomore at Morehead State University, is researching how to make language arts curriculum relevant to home.
Gwen Akers, a Morehead State University sophomore and aspiring language arts teacher, is championing Place-Based Education by advocating for Appalachian literature in classrooms. Through her research, she surveyed local educators and found a lack of regional literature in schools—yet many teachers expressed a desire to incorporate it. Gwen emphasizes collaboration between schools, libraries, and local authors to increase access to Appalachian voices. Her work, recently published in Literacy, Teaching, and Learning, highlights the power of culturally relevant literature to inspire students and instill a strong sense of place. Learn more about her efforts to connect reading with regional identity!
Read moreMore news and stories from our Appalachia Regional Hub:
Appalachian Future Educator Pioneers Place-Based Literacy Research
Gwen, a rising sophomore at Morehead State University, is researching how to make language arts curriculum relevant to home.
A Light To and From the Mountains: Appalachian Future Educators Learn and Lead at Morehead State University
RSC’s Appalachian Hub Partner Morehead State University’s student-led Appalachian Future Educators offers an inspiring model for Rural Teacher Corps everywhere.
Appalachian Future Educators Program Reaches New Heights
Morehead State University's Rural Teacher Corps continues to shine with new programs, resources, and opportunities for students and the local community.
We're Proud to Announce RSC's Tennessee Lead for the Appalachia Regional Hub!
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will join Morehead State University in leading the Appalachian Region’s growing rural-focused work