Rural Schools Collaborative

East Carolina University Rural Education Institute

Our Southeast Hub partners at the East Carolina University Rural Education Institute offer a state-wide network of exemplary rural-focused programming aimed at creating equitable, empowered, and thriving rural school ecosystems. Dr. Loni Crumb, Associate Professor in the Counselor Education Program at East Carolina University, serves as the hub contact for this region.

The Rural Education Institute is an easily accessible and engaging collaborator with local education stakeholders. By providing a space for rural education voices, perspectives, and innovations to thrive, that REI and its local partners can together strengthen the educational outcomes of rural students, schools, and communities. With those stakeholders, the Rural Education Institute works locally in four primary ways:

ECU Next Gen: a teacher pathway program that seeks to cultivate the next generation of rural educators and researchers.
Local and Regional Development: building the capacity of rural places by collaborating with schools and communities.
Rural Education Promotion: articulating and advocating the importance of rural schools and communities.
Research and Evaluation: studying investigating what works in rural schools.

Teaching CARE Corps - My Rural Service Story

Spotlight

Left to right: Jacqui Allen, Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Henry Whitehead, Maurice Harris, Megan Williams, Kate McPhee, Destiny Wharton.

Building on a Strong Foundation

RSC visited three rural schools in North Carolina to learn about how the GRAD Partnership for Advancing Student Success Systems can elevate their work to foster positive post-secondary outcomes for all students.

The GRAD Partnership for Advancing Student Success Systems is helping rural schools nationwide improve student outcomes by fostering agency, belonging, and connectedness. This year, three new Regional Hub partners—Missouri State University, the Arizona Rural Schools Association, and East Carolina University—joined the initiative, expanding its reach. Schools like Southside, North Pitt, and Ayden-Grifton High Schools in North Carolina are leveraging the program to strengthen graduation pathways, mentorship programs, and student-centered interventions. With the support of local partners like ECU, rural schools are enhancing student success and postsecondary readiness. Learn more about this impactful initiative!

More news and stories from our Southeast Hub:

From Understanding to Implementation: East Carolina University Leads the Way on AI in Education

East Carolina University’s AI Teaching and Research Institute is empowering teachers to explore the intersection of AI and education

Science Educators Abroad: East Carolina University Opens New Doors for Rural Teachers

For the last three years, East Carolina University has provided scholarships to rural science teachers to enrich their teaching through immersive study-abroad experiences in Belize and Spain.

Rural Educator Ecosystem: Community of Learners Launches at National Summit to Address Educator Shortage in Rural Communities

With generous support from ECMC Foundation and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, the initiative kicked off at the Rural Schools Collaborative Hub Summit in Minneapolis

Learning in Place: Clemson Science Methods Class Transformed Through Partnership with Local Schools

Drs. Steph Dean and Julianne Wenner detail how they utilized partnerships with local rural schools to enhance their science methods course for pre-service teachers at Clemson University.