RootEd in NC
The Community is the Classroom
Teacher experience
Latest Student Challenge
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 North Carolina students and communities, requires a strong network of support. That’s RootEd.
RootEd Impact Stories
Rosman Elementary Students Create Stickers to Save Hellbender Salamanders in Transylvania County
“To help with the fight to save the hellbender, students are designing free stickers which they will distribute to Pisgah National Forest and other locations in Rosman and Brevard to educate about two important conservation measures.” – The Transylvania Times
Wake Early College Students Design Website and App to Connect Visitors to Freedom Park and Other Sites in Raleigh
“Your decision to create an app exceeded our fondest expectations for how people would engage this site.” – Prof. Reginald Hildebrand, NC Freedom Park Board Member
Appalachian State University Lab School Builds Trail and Exploration-Based Learning Community in Elkin
“You need to love school, because if you don’t love school you’re not going to learn…School can and should be different.” – Emma Hatfield-Sidden, Principal, ASU Academy at Elkin
Polk Fifth Graders Design and Build Pollinator Garden
“It’s easy for teachers to stand in front of a class and talk about all the standards…, but until they (students) see it in action I don’t think they necessarily understand and grasp that relevancy piece.” – Dr. Kim McMinn, Principal, Polk Elementary
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
Make Your Trail: ASU Academy at Elkin Builds a Trail to the Library
Community Partners Spotlight
Eden Brothers
Eden Brothers has generously supported the pollinator garden project that RootEd teacher, Alison Stout, and her 4th graders at Etowah Elementary in Henderson County are creating. Eden Brothers provides a huge variety of seeds and bulbs. They are headquartered in WNC, and ship across the US.
Blantyre Station
Blantyre Station has generously supported the pollinator garden project that RootEd teacher, Alison Stout, and her 4th graders at Etowah Elementary in Henderson County are creating. Blantyre Station is a local nursery and garden store serving Brevard, NC and the surrounding area. We offer a wide variety of quality locally grown ferns, annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs for retail and wholesale.
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, a 1-day study visit at some point during the school year, and a 1-day showcase conference in the spring
- Networking and collaborative learning with peers, partners, and coaches
- 5 CEUs
- Stipends (for teachers in select counties)
- Project management support
- Partnership development support
- Storytelling support