Meeting the Learning Needs of Students: A Rural High-Need School District's Systemic Leadership Development Initiative

Rural Educator, The, Spring 2005 by Browne-Ferrigno, Tricia, Maynard, Brenda

While the population of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is 90 percent "white persons, not of Hispanic/Latino origin" (US Census Bureau, 2000), in Pike County it is 98 percent. Most residents were born there or in nearby counties and have resided in the region most of their lives. According to PCSD leaders, many children have never traveled outside of Pike County, and a few in remote hollows have never visited Pikeville. While 62 percent of the population over age 25 are high school graduates, only 10 percent within that group have completed a post-secondary degree (US Census Bureau, 2000), despite the local availability of Pikeville College. Hence, diversity within the county population is based upon socioeconomic status, level of education, work and life experiences, and residence location-not ethnicity, race, or nationality.

The culture of the area is predominately patriarchy, a tradition established by Anglo-Saxon, Scottish-Irish, and German settlers in the early 1700s (Clark, 1988), yet influenced significantly by "the demands of the Appalachian frontier environment" (Drake, 2001, p. 187). The rugged terrain of steep mountains and narrow hollows isolated families and clans, creating distinctly different communities throughout the county. Residents often know where individuals grew up based upon their surnames-Belcher, Dotson, McCoy, Tackett. Newcomers are not readily accepted, thus making it difficult even for principals and teachers within the district to transfer to different schools.

The Kentucky Kids Count report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (2000) paints a sobering picture of the county's high-need characteristics based upon key indicators of child well being. Children under the age of 18 comprise 26 percent of the total county population-and 30 percent of them live in poverty (US Census Bureau, 2000). Reports suggest that between 25 and 33 percent of children under the age of 5 have been neglected or physically, sexually, or emotionally abused (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2000). On average 69 percent of students in PCSD qualify to participate in free or reduced lunch programs; schools located in remote areas of the district report free or reduced lunch rates above 90 percent.

Pike County was first explored by trappers, hunters, and adventurers (Clark, 1988) and later settled by yeoman farmers and miners (Drake, 2001). The region retains many cultural characteristics that make it uniquely Central Appalachian, a distinctly different ruralism compared to other regions in America where large-scale agriculture and ranching are possible or economic conditions have improved. With its widespread welfare dependency and social challenges created by substance abuse and limited educational attainment, Pike County in many ways faces issues quite similar to those in inner cities. Educational accountability has expanded those challenges.

Addressing High-Need District Needs: New Expectations

The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) of 1990 reconstructed the commonwealth's entire system of P-12 public schooling and launched a demanding system of school accountability to ensure that all children learn at high levels (Foster, 1999; Pankratz & Petrosko, 2000). Though the vision for reformed public education embraces high student achievement for all students, many rural school districts in eastern Kentucky face formidable challenges. Nonetheless, the Pike County School Board maintains a sustained commitment to the belief that all children can learn. Five years ago the school board and superintendent adopted the slogan "Success For All" and then acted on it by requiring district leadership to reframe solutions associated with serving at-risk children. The district seeks principals who will both make a difference with students and make a commitment to stay in Pike County. However, recruiting and retaining the next generation of school leaders is a real and long-term challenge.