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 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

    Make Your Trail: ASU Academy at Elkin Builds a Trail to the Library

    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 2023- 2024 Calendar & Activities

       

      Aug 25

      Application Deadline 

      Apply to be part of the 2023 – 2024 cohort.

      Apply Now!

      Jul – Sep

      (Optional) Coaching Support and Project Planning

      Ready to start planning your project RIGHT NOW? Shoot us an email at jkorreck@constructiveld.org and we’ll set up some co-planning time. 

      At Your School or Virtual 

      Sep 14 – 15

      Launch Event 

      Teachers meet for 2 days to kick-off RootEd, and start designing their student projects and challenges. 

      Western NC Location TBD 

      Ongoing

      Co-Creation and Coaching 

      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

      Spring TBD

      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.