RURAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD NOV. 14 AT WCU

“Issues in Rural Education” will be the focus of a conference set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Western Carolina University's A.K. Hinds University Center.

The conference will bring together representatives of rural school systems and WCU faculty and staff to share best practices and success stories with other educators who work in the rural school systems of Western North Carolina.

Presentations will include innovations and strategies for success in the areas of teacher recruitment, literacy, college awareness, teacher support and retention, technology, pre-college programming, professional development delivery systems, accountability, programming partnerships for English language learners, targeted reading interventions and writing strategies for high school systems. The keynote session will be delivered by Roger Metcalf, director of the Western Regional Education Service Alliance.

“This conference is a wonderful opportunity for Western and its school partners to come together to identify and deal with the educational issues that face rural schools in Western North Carolina ,” said Michael Dougherty , dean of WCU's College of Education and Allied Professions. “We anticipate that the conference will become an annual event and will create an ongoing opportunity to ensure the children of Western North Carolina receive a quality education from high-quality professional educators.”

Sue Nations, superintendent of the Jackson County schools system, said that system's partnership with WCU's English Language Learner Project has provided professional development and resources that have enhanced instruction for students.

“Building a web of support for staff members and providing a network of coaching has been critical,” Nations said. “The ‘Issues in Rural Education Conference' will provide an opportunity to share what Jackson County schools in partnership with Western Carolina University can accomplish in support of ELL students.”

The conference is being hosted by the Office for Rural Education, and the School University Teacher Education Partnership in WCU's College of Education and Allied Professions, along with the Western Regional Education Service Alliance.

Registration information and list of conference topics and presenters are available online at ore.wcu.edu, or by contacting Kim Elliott, director of the Office for Rural Education, at (828) 227-7347. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 20.