CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee's rural education stakeholders are invited to a conference to address their unique challenges and opportunities.
"I'm a product of rural education in my school years and in my higher ed education years. So, I understand the importance of engaging communities," said Dr. Cheryl Lambert, Austin Peay State University Center for Rural Education Coordinator.
According to the National Rural Education Association, about one third of Tennessee public schools are in rural areas.
"Policymakers need to keep in mind how important our rural students are, and our rural teachers and our rural administrators," she said.
Registration is now open for their fourth annual rural education conference. The theme for 2024 is "Innovating the Rural Experience: Growing Student Leaders, Pioneering Teacher Ed Initiatives and Enhancing Community Partnerships."
"We have a lot of positives to look at when we investigate rural education. And we want to highlight those positive aspects of rural education while also addressing the challenges," said Dr. Lambert.
The rural education conference's program includes 16 sessions, which attendees can mix and match based on their interests. Topics include microteaching, school-community partnerships and integrating Artificial Intelligence in the classroom.
"We're very excited to integrate those into the conference sessions. AI, ChatGPT and a couple of other great tools that teachers can use in their classrooms to support students using AI," said Dr. Lambert. "As we address the use of IE and technology in rural schools, we're very aware of the limited broadband access in rural schools as well. So we will highlight that and bring that to the forefront as a need for rural educators."
The NREA report stated Tennessee's rural schools and districts are large, and rural students are more likely to live well below the federal poverty threshold than rural students in other states. Also, instructional spending is nearly $1,500 per rural pupil lower than the U.S. average, and teacher salaries are lower than in all but 15 other states.
Tennessee ranks 39th for rural high school graduation rates, the report stated, and it's rural educational outcomes are mostly near or above U.S. averages.
However, the report stated that Access to supports for learning and development
is a crucial concern, with the state ranking in the top 15 on three indicators, including the fifth lowest rate of female students receiving gifted services, 15.7% of households with no access to broadband, and a ranking of 14th on a ratio of students to psychologist/school counselor.
The virtual conference is taking place from 8 a.m. through noon on Tuesday, March 19th. Click here to register.
"I wanted to not overlook the needs and the challenges, but also highlight the benefits and the successes of our rural schools," said Dr. Lambert. "So I think it's important for policymakers to pay attention to what's happening in rural Tennessee, and made sure that those efforts are not neglected."