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Middlesboro Independent School District’s Innovative Literacy Program: The Phonebook

Two teenage students holding a copy of a children's book titled I Got Rythm

Bringing Stories to Life Middlesboro Independent School District, in collaboration with Partners for Rural Impact’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program, is using a creative solution to keep the love of reading alive in their community: The Phonebook. This unique telephone-based storytelling platform allows students to record and share their own stories, which younger students […]

Stop V Introduces ‘Too Good for Drugs’ Program to Middlesboro Elementary Second Graders

A woman stands next to a student working at a desk

Stop V Introduces ‘Too Good for Drugs’ Program to Middlesboro Elementary Second Graders Evelyn Bailey working with a student to fill out her Too Good For Drugs workbook. Middlesboro, KY – Second grade students at Middlesboro Elementary School recently completed  a program called “Too Good for Violence.” This innovative curriculum is designed to promote  character values, […]

‘Healing Tree’ breathes life into the community of Hazard, Kentucky

sculpture of a tree against a brick wall

‘Healing Tree’ breathes life into the community of Hazard, Kentucky The Healing Tree in Hazard, Kentucky. In the Appalachian town of Hazard, Kentucky, a tree stands on Main Street: its trunk as strong as steel, its leaves unchanging. The metal sculpture embodies a complex, multi-layered story of loss, grief, hope, and the unwavering resilience of […]

Clear Vision, Bright Futures: Leslie County Schools Focus on Vision Issues

Students seated in a school library having vision exams

Clear Vision, Bright Futures: Leslie County Schools Focus on Vision Issues Students received vision exams from UPike College of Optometry students Leslie County, KY – During the last two weeks of school in Kentucky, all students in grades 3-8, 10, and 11 take the required Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). This important academic milestone, along with […]

One Caring Adult: Standing in the Corner for Students

Halsey stands with a group of elementary students in front of a banner that reads "Be the I in Kind"

One Caring Adult: Standing in the Corner for Students When Carlee Halsey graduated from Morehead State University, she knew she wanted to return to her hometown to serve the community where she grew up in Wolfe County, Kentucky. In her position as Full-Service Community Schools Coordinator at Red River Valley Elementary School, she gets to […]

‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County

Wynn stands with a student holding a certificate

‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County For Mandy Wynn, returning to the world of academia to pursue her GED and higher education sparked a passion and purpose for serving her community. She now embodies that purpose every day in her role as Student Success Navigator at Jenkins Middle High School […]

A Mentor’s Mission to Uplift and Inspire Barbourville Students

A group pf high school students wearing medals and tshirts that read "Barbourville Science Olympics"

A Mentor’s Mission to Uplift and Inspire Barbourville Students There are two things Travis Mills is passionate about: education and Appalachia. With a rich background in education, Mills has been a guiding light for students in his community for years. He is the proud recipient of 17 Green Leaf Awards and counting—an honor bestowed upon […]

Applications for the Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit now open

Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit: Addressing today's challenges with tomorrow's leaders

Applications for the Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit now open The Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit (AYLS) is searching for passionate 10th and 11th-grade students from the 42 Kentucky school districts served by the Appalachian Cradle to Career Partnership, along with Claiborne County, TN & Lee County, VA, to gather at Lincoln Memorial University in Claiborne County, […]