What happens when you bring together a group of professors, program directors, state education department staff, and long-time education professionals? Collaboration, inspiration, and innovation that will improve the lives of students! On March 29, REL Appalachia (REL AP) staff had the privilege of welcoming the Governing Board members to our first meeting. They brought knowledge and passion to the table, they listened, interacted, and raised critical questions to each other and to us that will shape REL AP's current and future efforts.
The REL Appalachia Governing Board
| Name | Organzation & Title | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Alexander-Mitchell | Director, Division of Family and Community Engagement, Shelby County Schools (Memphis, TN) | School leadership, family and community engagement |
| Gene Bottoms | Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board | Teacher preparation, college and career readiness |
| Thomas Brewster | Director of External Affairs, Communities in Schools of Virginia; Professor, School of Education, Bluefield College (VA) | STEM, dropout prevention |
| Amelia Courts | President/CEO, The Education Alliance (WV) | Enhancing student achievement |
| Cindy Daniel* | Deputy Superintendent of Education Support, West Virginia Department of Education | Rural schools |
| Karen Dodd | Chief Performance Officer, Kentucky Department of Education | Data-driven decision-making, technology |
| Jennifer Piver-Renna | Senior Executive Director for Research, Virginia Department of Education | Research to practice, program evaluation |
| Jeffrey Schwartz | Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative; Education Program Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) | Program design |
| Nate Schwartz* | Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Tennessee Department of Education | Data analysis, strategic planning |
| Ludy van Broekhuizen | Chief Innovation Officer, AdvanceED | Program evaluation, professional development, early literacy |
| Rachel Yarbrough | Superintendent, Webster County School District (KY) | Accountability systems, curriculum design |
One of the guiding principles of the REL AP work is that it be both informed and driven by local knowledge. The Governing Board members help ensure that REL AP is addressing the actual needs of the region. Representing all four states—Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia—the members are able to provide feedback on the partnerships that is grounded in local knowledge. The board is also composed of individuals who have an outside perspective as well as experience working on REL contracts. Collectively, the members have diverse backgrounds and experience. They have an awareness of the region as well as insight into what research methods and tools are most effective in promoting positive student outcomes and advancing students' education and careers.
Drawing on the wisdom of our board
Throughout the daylong meeting, REL AP staff members gained much from the Governing Board members' ideas and input. After meeting in small groups to review and discuss the various partnerships, the board members raised important questions and provided valuable guidance on the partnership plans. During a lunchtime share-out activity, we learned two major lessons. First, the partnerships, most of which work with leaders in one of our four states, are addressing topics that are just as applicable and essential to the other states. These partnerships were initially developed with state and local partners to meet existing needs, and Governing Board members confirmed that they are appropriate to address those local needs—but they may also be helpful for other states. Board members continuously expressed that partnerships located in a different state than their own resonated with their own state's concerns and needs. One board member said she was struck by the linkages between the goals of the partnerships and believed that all four states will be able to benefit from each of the ongoing partnerships. The board members encouraged REL AP staff to critically evaluate opportunities for collaboration across the partnerships and to leverage members' networks in the process.
The second major lesson was that familiarity with the districts and states is required to understand what is happening on the ground, what needs to happen to make changes, and which players need to be involved. For example, when looking at the high school completion rate data for the region, Governing Board members suggested that the data may appear accurate but not necessarily portray the whole story. Statewide data may not reveal the districts where high school completion rates are well behind the state average. Similarly, statewide data do not reflect the reasons many students were not able to make it to their senior year, let alone consider the possibility of college. The Governing Board members, many of whom have worked either in or for the region for decades, will be able to provide the partnerships with essential contextual knowledge.
Informing our work over time
Over the next five years, we will be tapping into the expertise and experience of the Governing Board members to guide the partnerships in directions that will be most meaningful to and effective for the Appalachian region. To echo the words of the members, we plan to encourage and promote collaboration across states and partnerships when it is found to be of use and value. We are excited to welcome such a passionate Governing Board to join us—and educate us—in our work on REL AP!