THE CONVERSATIONS
rural school and community tour: lopez island trip interview
Dr. Kristina Hesbol Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies University of Denver Founding Director, Center for Innovative Rural Collaborative and Leadership Education (CIRCLE) kristina.hesbol@du.edu |
Dr. Kent Seidel Associate Professor, Research & Evaluation Methods University of Colorado Denver Founding Director, Center for Practice Engaged Education Research (C-PEER) kent.seidel@ucdenver.edu |
What was the impetus for the trip to Lopez Island and School?
Drs. Kristina Hesbol and Kent Seidel planned this rural pre-session to help increase the awareness of rural and remote school leadership and create an opportunity to bring practitioners and scholars together who are interested in rural education. Dr. Kristina Hesbol explained, “This is my 20th UCEA meeting, and most of the years, all the focuses have been urban spaces of some manner and never been on rural.” The Lopez Island trip was informative and delightful since many members do not have the opportunity to visit rural, particularly rural island schools.
What are your reflections about the trip?
Drs. Hesbol and Seidel expressed that the trip was aligned well with the UCEA theme of sustainability. All educational programs at the Lopez Island were centered around community and sustainability, and if it did not align with it, the school did not do it. Dr. Seidel explained, “It turned out to be a better fit for the sustainability theme. One that I hadn't imagined. They have a big farming program with kids participating...the entire island is sustainable, synchronous, and interconnected." The students at Lopez Island plant and grow their food as a community. And students are doing scratch cooking to prepare their lunches, where they naturally learn about interconnectedness and sustainability.
Dr. Kristina Hesbol shared, “It really redefined the community for me.” It was a valuable opportunity to learn and see the meaning of community and shared leadership at Lopez Island. Rural schools have limited staff and educators to operate schools. Thus, everyone helps, participates, and is a vital part of the school community. Everyone they met on the island pointed out the importance and value of relationships, interconnectedness, and commitment to the community to provide the rich and necessary education to their students.
What are the major takeaways for the AERA Division A members?
Drs. Kristina Hesbol and Kent Seidel wanted members to think about what it means to be rural. They want members to challenge and "dismantle the deficit rural stereotype" and understand the “assets in a small community.” Dr. Hesbol commented, “I got a real sense that everybody steps up. Nobody waits to be asked.” They also want members to recognize that the rural space is not homogeneous. It is quite diverse. Additionally, folks can also learn so much about a practice-research partnership in rural setting and by doing so we can better prepare our educators to lead rural schools, which is often absent from the leadership conversation.
What are the future plans?
Drs. Hesbol and Seidel recognized that rural leaders are often disconnected from each other. They continue to do work that brings rural leaders together and bridges the gap between scholars and rural practitioners so they can learn from one another. They plan to host pre-sessions annually at UCEA to increase awareness of the rural schools.
Please check out CIRCLE if you are interested in rural education:
Center for Innovative Rural Collaborative and Leadership Education (CIRCLE)
Dr. Kristina Hesbol
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
University of Denver
Founding Director, Center for Innovative Rural
Collaborative and Leadership Education (CIRCLE)
kristina.hesbol@du.edu
Dr. Kent Seidel
Associate Professor, Research & Evaluation Methods
University of Colorado Denver
Founding Director, Center for Practice Engaged
Education Research (C-PEER)
kent.seidel@ucdenver.edu
Drs. Kristina Hesbol and Kent Seidel planned this rural pre-session to help increase the awareness of rural and remote school leadership and create an opportunity to bring practitioners and scholars together who are interested in rural education. Dr. Kristina Hesbol explained, “This is my 20th UCEA meeting, and most of the years, all the focuses have been urban spaces of some manner and never been on rural.” The Lopez Island trip was informative and delightful since many members do not have the opportunity to visit rural, particularly rural island schools.
What are your reflections about the trip?
Drs. Hesbol and Seidel expressed that the trip was aligned well with the UCEA theme of sustainability. All educational programs at the Lopez Island were centered around community and sustainability, and if it did not align with it, the school did not do it. Dr. Seidel explained, “It turned out to be a better fit for the sustainability theme. One that I hadn't imagined. They have a big farming program with kids participating...the entire island is sustainable, synchronous, and interconnected." The students at Lopez Island plant and grow their food as a community. And students are doing scratch cooking to prepare their lunches, where they naturally learn about interconnectedness and sustainability.
Dr. Kristina Hesbol shared, “It really redefined the community for me.” It was a valuable opportunity to learn and see the meaning of community and shared leadership at Lopez Island. Rural schools have limited staff and educators to operate schools. Thus, everyone helps, participates, and is a vital part of the school community. Everyone they met on the island pointed out the importance and value of relationships, interconnectedness, and commitment to the community to provide the rich and necessary education to their students.
What are the major takeaways for the AERA Division A members?
Drs. Kristina Hesbol and Kent Seidel wanted members to think about what it means to be rural. They want members to challenge and "dismantle the deficit rural stereotype" and understand the “assets in a small community.” Dr. Hesbol commented, “I got a real sense that everybody steps up. Nobody waits to be asked.” They also want members to recognize that the rural space is not homogeneous. It is quite diverse. Additionally, folks can also learn so much about a practice-research partnership in rural setting and by doing so we can better prepare our educators to lead rural schools, which is often absent from the leadership conversation.
What are the future plans?
Drs. Hesbol and Seidel recognized that rural leaders are often disconnected from each other. They continue to do work that brings rural leaders together and bridges the gap between scholars and rural practitioners so they can learn from one another. They plan to host pre-sessions annually at UCEA to increase awareness of the rural schools.
Please check out CIRCLE if you are interested in rural education:
Center for Innovative Rural Collaborative and Leadership Education (CIRCLE)
Dr. Kristina Hesbol
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
University of Denver
Founding Director, Center for Innovative Rural
Collaborative and Leadership Education (CIRCLE)
kristina.hesbol@du.edu
Dr. Kent Seidel
Associate Professor, Research & Evaluation Methods
University of Colorado Denver
Founding Director, Center for Practice Engaged
Education Research (C-PEER)
kent.seidel@ucdenver.edu