Rural perspectives: How rural school and district leaders  view the present and future of American Education

Robert Mitchell; Evelyn Adams; Kriselda Craven

doi:10.3776/tpre.2025.v15n1p1-27

Authors

Robert Mitchell University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Evelyn Adams University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Kriselda Craven University of Colorado Colorado Springs

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3776/tpre.2025.v15n1p1-27

Keywords:

rural school leadership, education research, rural challenges

Abstract

Rural school and district leaders often have distinctive viewpoints about education, their local communities, and the effectiveness of their schools. Using a modified survey instrument, more than 100 rural school leaders from one Rocky Mountain State provided input on the critical issues impacting their schools and students and the future of public schools in the United States. A statistical review and the utilization of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) found that most rural school and district leaders expressed their immediate concerns about budgetary shortfalls and a lack of educators to serve as teachers in their schools. In addition, many leaders see their schools as capable of working with students who perform above and below grade level. Recommendations for future research include an examination of how rural leaders support LGBTQ+ students, particularly those who are academically at or below grade level, and implementing new efforts to promote innovative solutions to persistent rural school challenges.

Author Biographies

Robert Mitchell, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Robert Mitchell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). Throughout his time at UCCS, he has been involved in k-12 rural education, higher education administration, state policy regarding education, and numerous international initiatives designed to support rural schools. His teaching background includes providing classroom instruction to students in nearly all grade levels and locations – including large urban schools in California and small, rural schools in Colorado. He has most recently engaged in research and teaching with universities and faculty in the nations of the Seychelles and Malawi, and continues to support rural teacher preparation efforts both in the U.S. and abroad.

Evelyn Adams, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Evelyn Adams is a dedicated secondary English as a Second Language (ESL) educator currently pursuing her PhD dissertation in Colorado to deepen her expertise. With a background in elementary education, she transitioned to secondary and higher education to better support multilingual learners. Evelyn has taught at the college level and worked with international non-profits focused on language and cultural development. As a multilingual learner herself, she is committed to fostering cultural and linguistic diversity through a transformative teaching approach that promotes curiosity, inclusivity, equity, and lifelong learning.

Kriselda Craven, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Kriselda Craven is a former elementary educator dedicated to bilingual education and educators. Her passion for the field has inspired her to serve as the Director of Development for the Educating Children of Color non-profit and a board member for the Latina Equity Foundation. Her current professional role is as a federal grant manager for the Colorado Department of Education’s Charter School Office. In addition to her professional and volunteer roles, Kriselda Craven is also a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs’ Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy program. Her research focuses on critical narrative methodologies, the experiences of bilingual and specially endorsed educators, and the policies that impact them. Her work is driven by a passion for creating safe and equal spaces for historically marginalized communities and the diverse educators who serve in our schools.

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Rural perspectives

How rural school and district leaders view the present and future of American Education

Authors

DOI:

Keywords:

Abstract

Author Biographies

Robert Mitchell, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Evelyn Adams, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Kriselda Craven, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

References

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