Springer Rural Education Research in the United States: State of the Science and Emerging Directions

This volume represents current and futuristic thinking of seminal rural education researchers, with the goal of providing perspectives and directions to inform the work of rural education research, practice, and policy.  With an emphasis on leveraging collaboration among key rural education stakeholders, this title both outlines our current research knowledge base and maps a future research agenda for maximizing the educational experiences and achievement of rural K-12 students and their families and educators in the United States. In examining the interrelated impacts of teacher practices, family engagement, school/community environment and contextual factors, the book offers the evidence-based insights of seminal researchers on issues ranging from professional development and family-school partnership approaches to methodological considerations. It also explores the needs, opportunities and realities associated with translating research to the arenas of practice and policy – while considering how the latter can inform future scholarship.  From the Back Cover This volume represents current and futuristic thinking of seminal rural education researchers, with the goal of providing perspectives and directions to inform the work of rural education research, practice, and policy.  With an emphasis on leveraging collaboration among key rural education stakeholders, this title both outlines our current research knowledge base and maps a future research agenda for maximizing the educational experiences and achievement of rural K-12 students and their families and educators in the United States. In examining the interrelated impacts of teacher practices, family engagement, school/community environment and contextual factors, the book offers the evidence-based insights of seminal researchers on issues ranging from professional development and family-school partnership approaches to methodological considerations. It also explores the needs, opportunities and realities associated with translating research to the arenas of practice and policy – while considering how the latter can inform future scholarship. About the Author Gwen C. Nugent, PhD Dr. Gwen Nugent is a Research Professor at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  With a background in cognitive psychology and K-12 instruction, she has over 30 years of experience in the design, production, and evaluation of mediated instruction.  She coordinates STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) development and research projects, with a focus on teacher professional development and the use of technology to improve student learning.  As part of the National Center for Research in Rural Education, she served as principal investigator for the Coaching Science Inquiry in Rural Schools project, which examined how professional development and follow-up coaching influenced teachers’ knowledge and implementation of guided scientific inquiry. Gina M. Kunz, PhD  Dr. Gina M. Kunz is a Research Associate Professor and Assistant Director at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She is a licensed psychologist for children and adolescents with a background in school psychology. She has served in many roles in large-scale federally funded research and has led numerous professional development workshops and training sessions for pre-service and active professionals in the areas of school psychology and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. As a Co-Principal Investigator of the National Center for Research on Rural Education (R2Ed) and Director of Rural Outreach and Coordination, she served as a Co-Principal Investigator for the Coaching Science Inquiry in Rural Schools rese