Current Projects
New England Rural Education Hub – A partnership between the Rural Schools Collaborative and the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development
The Hub is dedicated to advancing rural community thriving and student success through a focus on rural educator workforce development, culturally responsive, place-based education and school-community partnerships. The projects below highlight some of the work being done by our regional network to achieve these goals.
Interested in partnering with members of the hub network for research, professional development or technical assistance? Please reach out today.
Rural Thrive
Rural Thrive: The Rural Educator Resilience Project is led by the UMaine College of Education and Human Development. Funded with $3.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending awarded to the University of Maine System, the project provides ongoing professional development, mentorship and other evidence-based support, with the goal of leading to better resilience and retention among rural educators and school leaders, as well as improving PK-12 student outcomes. The award was secured in Fiscal Year 2024 by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Angus King.
M.Ed. in Rural Educational Leadership
In 2019, the College of Education and Human Development, in partnership with the University of Maine at Presque Isle, launched its first explicitly rural-focused Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership with a cohort of students from across Washington and Aroostook Counties. This pilot program was offered in a blended format, with students attending courses as a group through online video-conferencing, as well as meeting for Saturday classes once a semester in Houlton, Maine.
Rural Vitality Lab
A collaborative partnership between the University of Maine, Colby College, and now the University of Southern Maine, the Rural Vitality Lab is dedicated to promoting rural vitality in Maine and beyond by better understanding the factors that contribute to creating and sustaining healthy developmental ecologies for rural children and youth. Co-led by Dr. Catharine Biddle, Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown, and Dr. Mark Tappna, the lab has partnered with organizations across Maine to conduct research, including the Cobscook Institute, the Rural Aspirations Project, and Mano en Mano.
More information on the Rural Vitality Lab, including its projects and publications, can be found here.