Chapter 10: Mobilizing to Shape Rural Outcomes: Perspectives of School–University–Community Partnerships in Rural America and Australia

This narrative features the international perspectives of school, university, and community partners who are mobilizing to shape educational outcomes in rural Southwest America and South Australia. The chapter is mapped in three sections that introduce, frame, and summarize lessons learned. In section one we frame the story in a knowledge base of theory, research, and practice in rural settings. We argue that education is a community-based responsibility, relationships are central to learning, dialogue arouses hope for sustainable futures, and relational-cultural theories serve as the foundation of hopeful communities. Section two summarizes lessons learned from partners who are crafting a new narrative for approaches and actions that support educational attainment in rural, remote places. We share our observations on the importance of recruiting educators to serve in rural areas, growing your own, retaining the rural workforce, starting early, engaging the elders, recharging veteran educators, connecting at a distance, building capacity with intensive residencies, and reclaiming rurality as an advantage. Section three considers the impact of the university presence in rural schools and communities. We examine the roles of partners in modeling the way forward, engaging in continuous study and reflection, navigating through unconventional pathways, adopting asset-based approaches, and recognizing the broader challenges of the university in partnership work. The narrative concludes with questions for researchers and practitioners who are interested in fostering relationships and revitalizing rural schools and communities for sustainable and hopeful futures.