ECU crowdfunding aims to provide free rural education webinar series
East Carolina University’s College of Education and Rural Education Institute (REI) have launched a crowdfunding initiative to provide a webinar series about equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion for teachers and administrators in rural schools.
Assistant principals James Knight and Dr. Tevis Harris are helping to organize the Race & Rurality webinar series for ECU’s Rural Education Institute.
The webinar series is part of the REI Diversity & Inclusion Support Project, a partnership between REI and Dr. Jesse Peel to expand and implement programs and initiatives designed to educate teachers and administrators in rural schools about issues related to equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion and help them become better advocates for their students.
“We are uniquely gifted and diverse,” said REI Director Dr. Kristen Cuthrell. “That is what I am most excited about in the REI work that we have shared and continue to share. Our commitment to partnering and learning alongside and within the diverse tapestry that makes rural North Carolina so unique.”
Cuthrell said the goal of the crowdfunding initiative is to provide the webinar series to educators at no cost. REI is partnering with several Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) educators across eastern North Carolina to create the series.
“Crowdfunding is a unique opportunity for ECU supporters, friends and community members to give to a cause they truly believe in. All crowdfunding gifts are appreciated, no matter the size, and they help campaigns meet their goals, which in turn helps ECU, our students and programs,” said Jennifer Watson, ECU’s director of annual giving. “Support for the REI Race & Rurality Webinars crowdfunding campaign will allow Dr. Kristen Cuthrell and the principals she works with to provide useful tools for educators in eastern North Carolina at a time when this topic is front and center in our schools.”
Helping lead the series are two N.C. assistant principals: Dr. Tevis Harris of Southwest Edgecombe High School in Pinetops and James Knight of Wellcome Middle School in Greenville.
REI works closely with schools in eastern North Carolina. In 2019, REI began working with Pines Elementary School in Plymouth to support children impacted by adverse childhood experiences. (Contributed photo)
“These webinars will be important for rural educators because it will encourage them to reflect on their practices by first recognizing and owning their biases about students of color,” Knight said. “I would say that investing in this campaign is investing in the students of this region, which will effect change in this world.”
Harris stressed the opportunity the webinars will create for educators to deepen their knowledge and understanding as well as create change.
“The chance to do something, make an impact and embark on the journey for change is now,” he said. “We have to put our money where the problem is to help educators do the heavy lifting necessary to increase academic achievement and lift racial barriers to educational outcomes.”
To support the campaign, visit the REI diversity webinars crowdfunding website before Dec. 15.