Black Belt
The University of West Alabama’s Rural Education Center anchors our Alabama & the Black Belt Regional Hub.
University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama College of Education's Center for Rural Education connects our work to Alabama and the Black Belt regions of Mississippi and Georgia. RSC board member and UWA College of Education dean Dr. Jan Miller serves as the hub contact for UWA’s vital work in addressing education needs of the rural South.
Located in the small town of Livingston, AL, The University of West Alabama sits in the heart of the Black Belt Region. The Black Belt has a unique cultural history, and UWA’s Center for Rural Education works to address critical issues such as rural poverty, teacher shortages, and community vitality across the South.
The relationship between the Rural Schools Collaborative and The University of West Alabama was facilitated by former RSC board member Larry Lee of Montgomery, Alabama, and started with a modest planning grant in 2015. Since that time, under the leadership of Dr. Miller and University president Dr. Ken Tucker, UWA has continued to flourish as a national leader in rural education. This commitment has led to the establishment of several flagship programs, which include:
Partnership with the National Rural Education Association
A new doctoral program in Rural Education
The establishment of the GRAD Partnership
The Alabama and Black Belt hub at UWA is a national leader in rural teacher recruitment and preparation, including efforts to build a more diverse and representative teaching force. UWA actively cultivates relationships with regional school districts, working hard to increase teacher capacity and build student success in their service region. Rural Schools Collaborative is deeply proud and appreciative of our history and partnership with UWA, and invites you to explore the many inspiring stories of their work below.
UWA College of Education's Project REP
A step forward in bolstering rural schools and sparking community revitalization.
Spotlight
GRAD Partnership School Earns First ‘A’ Rating
Southeast Lauderdale High School, one of ten Grad Partnership Schools within the Black Belt Regional Hub, recently saw its growth awarded with an ‘A’ rating.
Southeast Lauderdale High School is proving that strong student connections can lead to big success! As part of the national GRAD Partnership for Student Success, the school has focused on fostering a sense of belonging—helping students find their “why” for coming to school. From expanding extracurricular activities to strengthening CTE programs, these efforts have paid off in a major way, earning the school an “A” rating on the Mississippi State Report Card. To celebrate, students and staff came together for a fun-filled “A-Day Celebration,” reinforcing the power of community and engagement. Read the full story to see how Southeast Lauderdale is setting the bar for student success!
Read MoreMore news and stories from our Alabama & the Black Belt Regional Hub:
GRAD Partnership Rural Cohort Announces 30 New Schools
New Rural Cohort Intermediaries welcome in 30 new schools to the GRAD Partnership for Advancing Student Success Systems.
GRAD Partnership School Earns First ‘A’ Rating
Southeast Lauderdale High School, one of ten Grad Partnership Schools within the Black Belt Regional Hub, recently saw its growth awarded with an ‘A’ rating.
GRAD Partnership: Cohort 1 Year 3 Updates
Rural GRAD Partnership for Advancing Student Success Systems schools from Northern California and Black Belt regions are already making big strides in their third year.
Three New Intermediaries Join the GRAD Partnership and Rural Schools Collaborative’s Rural Cohort
RSC’s Regional Hubs in Arizona, Missouri Ozarks, and the Southeast will become Grad Partnership Intermediaries and join the project starting this fall.