Using Electronic Newsletters to Support Rural Educator Professional Development

Abstract

Positive behavioral interventions and supports and evidence-based behavioral interventions have become increasingly important for rural educators. This program description shares how a behavior analyst serving a growing U.S. rural district with limited resources implemented an eNewsletter to support educator professional development. Implications for practice and future directions are shared.

Keywords

professional development positive behavioral interventions and supports eNewsletter rural special education

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Institutes for Research. (2022, July 19). PROGRESS Center. https://www.air.org/centers/progress-center

Bates

M. S.

Phalen

Moran

(2016). Online professional development: A primer. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(5), 70–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721716629662

Berkeley

King-Sears

M. E.

Hott

B. L.

Bradley-Black

(2014). Are history textbooks more “considerate” after 20 years? The Journal of Special Education, 47(4), 217–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466912436813

Berry

A. B.

Gravelle

(2013). The benefits and challenges of special education positions in rural settings: Listening to the teachers. The Rural Educator, 34(2), 3. https://doi.org/10.35608/ruraled.v34i2.400

Berry

A. B.

Petrin

R. A.

Gravelle

M. L.

Farmer

T. W.

(2011). Issues in special education teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development: Considerations in supporting rural teachers. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 30(4), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/875687051103000402

Blanchard

M. R.

LePrevost

C. E.

Tolin

A. D.

Gutierrez

K. S.

(2016). Investigating technology-enhanced teacher professional development in rural, high-poverty middle schools. Educational Researcher, 45(3), 207–220. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X16644602

Brody

(2017, November 16). A bright spot for PD – New teacher induction that works. National Council on Teacher Quality. https://www.nctq.org/blog/A-bright-spot-for-PDnew-teacher-induction-that-works

Bueno

M. M.

(1998). Promoting nursing research through newsletters. Applied Nursing Research, 11(1), 41–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0897-1897(98)80071-2

Çetin

Bayrakci

(2019). Teacher professional development models for effective teaching and learning in schools. The Online Journal of Quality in Higher Education, 6(1), 32–38. https://tojqih.net/journals/tojqih/articles/v06i01/v06i01-04.pdf

10.

Darling-Hammond

Hyler

M. E.

Gardner

(2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/

11.

Desimone

L. M.

(2009). Improving impact studies of teachers’ professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher, 38(3), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X08331140

12.

Fischer

Fishman

Dede

Eisenkraft

Fumin

Foster

McCoy

(2018). Investigating relationships between school context, teacher professional development, teaching practices, and student achievement in response to a nationwide science reform. Teaching and Teacher Education, 72, 107–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2018.02.011

13.

Graves

J. M.

Abshire

D. A.

Amiri

Mackelprang

J. L.

(2021). Disparities in technology and broadband internet access across rurality: Implications for health and education. Family Community Health, 44(4), 257–265. https://doi.org.10.1097/FCH.00000000000000306

14.

Gray

F. E.

Hopkins

(2018). Transported: New Zealand non-profit organizations, digital platforms, and the limitations of metaphor. New Media & Society, 21(3), 750–769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00374-2

15.

Gray

F. E.

Murray

Hopkins

(2021). Affordances of e-Newsletters for NPO general public stakeholders. International Society for Third-Sector Research, 32, 1165–1181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00374-2

16.

Guo

(2014). Developing effective professional development programs: A case study. New Library World, 115(11/12), 542–557. https://doi.org/10.1108/NLW-05-2014-0048

17.

Heap

Thompson

Fien

(2021). Designing teacher professional development programs to support a rapid shift to digital. Education Technology Research Development, 69, 35–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09863-5

18.

The IRIS Center. (n.d.). Available modules. https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/pd-hours/earn-pdhours/available-modules/

19.

Jake-Schoffman

D. E.

Wilcox

Kaczynski

A. T.

Turner-McGrievy

Friedman

D. B.

West

D. S.

(2018). E-Media use and preferences for physical activity and public health information: Results of a web-based survey. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 24(4), 385–391. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.000000000638

20.

Kennedy

M. M.

(2016). How does professional development improve teaching? Review of Educational Research, 86(4), 945–980. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315626800

21.

Killion

Treacy

(2014). Myths about technology-supported professional learning. Journal of Staff Development, 35(2), 12–14.

22.

Mertens

D. M.

(2023). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage.

23.

National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Search for public school districts. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/index.asp

24.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2014). TALIS 2013 results: An international perspective on teaching and learning. http://www.oecd.org/edu/school/talis-2013-results.htm

25.

Peltola

Haynes

Clymer

McMillan

Williams

(2017). Opportunities for teacher professional development in Oklahoma rural and nonrural schools (REL 2017 -273). U.S. Department of Education.

26.

Powell

C. G.

Bodur

(2019). Teachers’ perceptions of an online professional development experience: Implications for a design and implementation framework. Teaching and Teacher Education, 77, 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2018.09.004

27.

Randolph

K. M.

Horn

A. L.

Sears

J. A.

Hott

B. L.

Willis

(2024). Remote coaching via technology in rural schools: Exploring three coaching models. Journal of Special Education Technology, 0(0), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/01626434241263059

28.

Rude

Miller

K. J.

(2018). Policy challenges and opportunities for rural special education. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 37(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756870517748662

29.

Sandholtz

J. H.

Ringstaff

Triant

(2023). Professional development tune-up. Phi Delta Kappan International, 104(8), 31–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217231174710

30.

Schwartzbeck

Prince

Redfield

Morris

Hammer

(2003). How are rural districts meeting the teacher quality requirements of No Child Left Behind? Appalachia Educational Laboratory.

31.

Showalter

Hartman

S. L.

Johnson

Klein

(2023). Why rural matters 2023: Centering equity and opportunity. National Rural Education Association. https://www.nrea.net/why-rural-matters

32.

Singh

Schrape

Kelly

(2012, November 25–28). Emerging strategies for a sustainable approach to professional development [Paper presentation]. asceilite 2012, Wellington, New Zealand. www.ascilite2012.org/page.php?31

33.

State

T. M.

Simonsen

Hirn

R. G.

Wills

(2019). Bridging the research-to-practice gap through effective professional development for teachers working with students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 44(2), 107–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742918816447

34.

Stevenson

N. A.

VanLone

Barber

B. R.

(2020). A commentary on the misalignment of teacher education and the need for classroom behavior management skills. Education and Treatment of Children, 43, 393–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-020-00031-1

35.

Stone

(2012). The effectiveness of newsletters in accountants’ client relations with small business managers. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 9(1), 21–43. https://doi.org/10.1108/11766091211216097

36.

Stough

L. M.

Montague

M. L.

(2014). How teachers learn to be classroom managers. In Emmer

E. T.

Sabornie

E. J.

(Eds.), Handbook of classroom management (pp. 446–458). Routledge.

37.

Tremmel

Myers

Brunow

Hott

B. L.

(2020). Educating students with disabilities during the COVID 19 pandemic: Lessons learned from Commerce Independent School District. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 39(4), 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756870520958114

38.

Uddin

M. S.

(2024). Alternative certification programs in K-12 schools: The experiences of diverse teachers. Journal of Education and Training, 11(1), 92–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756870520958114

39.

Umit

(2017). With happiness and glory, from your MP: The use of e-newsletters in the UK parliament. Parliamentary Affairs, 70, 759–779. https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsx006

40.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). 2020 census qualifying urban areas and final criteria clarifications. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications

41.

U.S. Department of Education. (2024). State and district use of Title II, Part A funds in 2022-23. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/2024/05/Title-IIA-UseOfFundsReport-22-23.pdf

42.

Yoon

S. A.

Miller

Richman

(2020). Comparative study of high-quality professional development for high school biology in a face-to-face versus online delivery mode. Educational Technology & Society, 23(3), 68–80. https://doi.org/129.15.65.230