Chapter 1: Learning by Leading in the Classroom: A Rural Research–Practice Partnership

In 2016 East Carolina University partnered with local, rural school districts and the Panasonic Foundation to improve teacher quality. The focus of the work is the school leaders and their ability to work closely with teachers to improve their craft. The FORCE (Focusing on Rural Challenges in Education) districts (Sampson, Duplin, Pender, and Jones) have been working to utilize instructional practices by school leaders to improve teaching practices in the classroom in order to ultimately improve student achievement for all students. The work is a collaboration among schools, a university, and a philanthropic foundation. The design exhibits the characteristics of research–practice partnership (Coburn & Penuel, 2016; Coburn, Penuel, & Geil, 2013). This chapter documents the initial year of the FORCE partnership.