The National Center for Research on Rural Education (R²Ed) invites you to peruse the newest edition of the Rural360° – an electronic newsletter that aims to provide researchers, educators and community leaders with insights into the dedicated efforts of our personnel and collaborators throughout the United States.

John White, U.S. Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach, visited the National Center for Research on Rural Education (R²Ed) April 29 to address challenges, opportunities and teacher development in rural schools.

Learn More

Dr. Patti Chance is a Professor and Chair of the Educational Leadership Department at San Diego State University. She has published articles, chapters and books on instructional leadership, supervision, school and curriculum development, organizational behavior and leadership theory. Dr. Chance served as editor of The Rural Educator for seven years and sits on editorial boards for several national journals dedicated to educational leadership.

Dr. Chance discusses her professional experiences in rural communities, shares her perspectives on the merits of small schools, and offers suggestions for the future of rural education research in this interview exclusive to the Rural360°.

Listen to Dr. Chance's Interview

Dr. Patti Chance and a colleague explored school reform through the lens of the Organized Development approach in this 2009 case study published in the Journal of Research in Rural Education. The researchers measured the impact of collaborative problem-solving, organizational practices and instructional leadership on academic achievement, attendance and graduation rates over a five-year span. The following one-page research digest summarizes the authors' findings and conclusions about the essential elements of successful collaboration and how the unique characteristics of rural schools facilitate the reform process.

View Research Digest

Dr. Roger Breed has served as the Nebraska Commissioner of Education since 2009. Prior to joining the Nebraska Department of Education, Dr. Breed served as an educator and administrator in Nebraska's rural and suburban school districts for nearly 40 years.

In the following interview, Dr. Breed discusses the strengths and challenges of rural communities, similarities and differences between rural and non-rural schools, and Nebraska's role as the seat of the National Center for Research on Rural Education.



Watch Conversation