TeachUNITED
Empowering Rural Middle School Educators Through Instructional Coaching
For rural schools, isolation, socio-economic challenges, and less per-pupil funding impede teacher recruitment, preparedness, and retention. With approximately half of the school districts in the United States located in rural areas, the need to resolve this challenge is imperative.
All Points North Foundation is helping TeachUNITED address these challenges for more than 60 rural middle-school teachers and administrators over three years. The grant funds job-embedded instructional coaching and professional learning networks to increase teacher engagement – improving and refining teachers’ skills and instructional strategies – and helping them overcome the professional isolation felt by many rural teachers. By providing these critical resources for teachers, more than 4,000 rural students will have access to higher-quality education.
The grant also allows for the continued development of an online teacher training program to make it adaptable for current and future challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TeachUNITED believes in the power of dedicated teachers to help transform the outcomes of overlooked and underserved rural populations. Research indicates that the middle grades are the “make it or break it” years when students begin to disengage from school. Strong, effective, research-based instructional practices in the middle grades are critical to keep students engaged and develop good habits to ensure they are well prepared for high school and career success.
Committed leaders and teachers at rural middle schools work alongside TeachUNITED coaches for 1+ years to create engaging, energized, data-driven, student-centered classrooms. Teachers engage in online courses and workshops with facilitated professional teacher networks, allowing for peer-to-peer collaboration and support. TeachUNITED’s evidence-based training helps groups of underserved teachers tangibly shift their practice, resulting in improved student engagement and learning outcomes where students gain skills for the future.
For more information: https://www.teachunited.org/
Photo credit: Brian Martinez
Click Here for All Points North Foundation’s Response to COVID-19
All Points North Foundation provides grants for U.S.-based projects and initiatives that support our priorities: improving public middle school education and teacher training, and implementing effective solar programs and/or projects.
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