RootEd in NC
The Community is the Classroom
Teacher experience
Apply for 2023-2024
Impact stories
What is RootEd?
RootEd was founded on the belief that the best way to prepare students and communities for tomorrow, is to engage them in solving the challenges of today, right in their backyard. RootEd is a community of educators, students, coaches, and partners working together to solve local and regional challenges. We know that bold, authentic learning experiences have the power to transform and strengthen students, teachers, schools, and communities. We also know that making these experiences attainable and sustainable for all western North Carolina students and communities, requires a strong network of support. That’s RootEd.
RootEd Impact Stories
Buncombe Students Redesigning Azalea Park
“We’re connecting students to the broader community through authentic learning experiences. This is a real-world challenge – how to redesign a park, and we’re going to solve it with our creativity, collaboration, and professionalism.” – Jeff Fleckenstein, Teacher & Community Coordinator
Madison Students' COVID Project Highlighted in Edutopia
“The goal is to distribute their research to the community and beyond in hopes to inform others about COVID-19 with reputable information and possibly help save lives,” – Oshen Wallin, Science Teacher
Polk Students Build Outdoor Classroom
“The idea originated in an English writing course, and students in that course planned the project and collectively wrote the grant.The construction of the outdoor classroom and green space has been a school-wide effort.” – PolkStudents.com
Madison Students Redesigning Pool Site
“I think it’s an important project because we don’t really have anywhere to hang out here,” Metcalf said. “There’s not much to do. We have to go to Weaverville or Asheville to do stuff. This will give us some where to hang out.” – Georgia Metcalf, Freshman
The Azalea Park Story: A Joint BCEC Student & RootEd Production
Powerful Learning for and with Teachers
RootEd provides teachers with everything they need to create bold community-connected learning experiences for their students, and nothing they don’t. As part of a cohort, RootEd teachers engage in a year-long blended learning experience that includes:
- 1-on-1 and small group coaching
- 3 in-person cohort events, including a 2-day launch event in Sep-Oct, a 1-day study visit at some point during the school year, and a 1-day showcase conference in May
- Membership in an online community of practice
- Networking and collaborative learning with peers, partners, and coaches
- 5 CEUs
- Project management support
- Partnership development support
- Storytelling support
The Teacher Experience
The Challenge
Over the course of a school-year, teachers will design and deliver a project that connects their students with their community to solve a challenge.
Major Milestones and Deliverables
- RootEd application
- Complete challenge design document
- Facilitate student experience
- Complete project website
- Tell your project story
Major Goals
- Teachers learn how to create student experiences focused on community challenges.
- Teachers learn how to facilitate student problem solving. collaboration, and communication.
- Teachers learn how to integrate their academic standards into community challenges.
- Teachers learn how to integrate local people, places, and professions into their challenges.
RootEd in WNC 2022- 2023 Calendar & Activities
Jul 22
Application Deadline
Apply to be part of the 2022 – 2023 cohort.
Jul – Sep
(Optional) Coaching Support and Project Planning
Ready to start planning your project RIGHT NOW? Shoot us an email and we’ll set up some co-planning time.
At Your School or Virtual
Sep 22 – 23
Launch Event
Teachers meet for 2 days to kick-off RootEd, and start designing their student projects and challenges.
Sep 22 – Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC
Sep 23 – Polk Central Elementary
Ongoing
Coaching and PLCs
RootEd coaches will meet with teachers 1-on-1 and in small groups at least 3 times throughout the school year to help teachers design and deliver their projects. Supports and activities include: designing student activities, integrating with standards, co-teaching or modeling activities, and identifying potential partners.
At Your School & Virtual
Ongoing
Online Community of Practice
RootEd utilizes an online community of practice to connect teachers to one another, coaches, tools, partners, and other resources.
Oct – Apr (1 Day)
Study Visit/Field Experience
Teachers will have several options to visit another school in WNC to see community-connected learning in action.
Western NC Location TBD
May 5
Culmination and Showcase
Teachers, students, and community partners meet for 1 day to share their work, celebrate, and learn from one another.
Western NC Location TBD
Apply to the 2023-2024 RootEd in WNC Teacher Cohort
Eligibility
The 2023-2024 RootEd Teacher Cohort is open to teachers in western North Carolina.
Benefits
Teachers accepted into the 2023-2024 RootEd Teacher Cohort will receive…
- 1-on-1 and small group coaching
- 3 in-person cohort events, including a 2-day launch event in Sep-Oct, a 1-day study visit at some point during the school year, and a 1-day showcase conference in May
- Membership in an online community of practice
- Networking and collaborative learning with peers, partners, and coaches
- Stipend
- 5 CEUs
- Project management support
- Partnership development support
- Storytelling support
Commitments
Applicants to the RootEd Teacher Cohort commit to the following:
- Designing and delivering a minimum of one student learning experience focused on a community challenge
- Completing a challenge design document for their project
- Creating and maintaining a project website that documents and tells their project story
- Attending all 3 cohort meetings: launch event, study visit, and showcase event (barring unforeseen circumstances)
- Meeting with a RootEd coach a minimum of four times per year
Application Form
Please contact Jay Korreck at jkorreck@constructivelearningdesign.org for more info about RootEd.