16 educators from across the Mississippi Delta participated in the Collaborative for Rural STEM Education conference held recently on the DSU campus. Back row (L to R): Shaun Smith, Mollie Rushing, Joannah Taylor, Angela Bryant, Sean Henry, Stephanie Calhoun, Toland Moore, Margaret Smith-Black, Mihir Datta, Amy Plummer, Emma Hamill, Amy Chudy, Candace Mason. Front row (L to R): Tammie Bright, Lacey Pruden, Casey Andrews.CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University recently hosted the concluding conference for the Collaborative for Rural STEM Education (CRSE), bringing together 16 educators from across the Mississippi Delta to celebrate a year of professional growth, classroom innovation and collaboration.
The summer conference marked the completion of the final cohort of the federally funded program as the grant reached its conclusion. Over the past year, participating teachers engaged in extensive professional development designed to strengthen STEM education in rural communities.
Throughout the program, educators received classroom supplies, specialized training and access to classroom support resources. Participants also attended a summer conference, a spring conference and a variety of other professional development opportunities focused on innovative teaching strategies and student engagement.
“When we looked at the evaluations, two quotes that stood out were, ‘This has helped me regain my fire for teaching,’ and ‘This program actually made me want to stay in education,'” said Jessica Hardy, project director for CRSE. “Many of the evaluations echoed the same sentiments, reflecting both the value of the program and the importance of learning alongside fellow educators.”
Teachers also emphasized the impact of building relationships with peers from other schools and districts. According to participant feedback, the opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators and share ideas throughout the year was among the program’s most valuable aspects.
The conference served as both a celebration of participants’ accomplishments and a reflection on the program’s impact on STEM education across the region. Faculty and staff highlighted the innovative classroom practices teachers developed during the program and the positive influence those practices will continue to have on students throughout the Mississippi Delta.
CRSE was fully funded by the United States Department of Education and was designed to support rural educators through professional development, instructional resources and collaborative learning opportunities.
The faculty team for the project included Dr. Maria Weber, Tanya McKinney, Dr. Lee Dean and Daphne Smith. Jessica Hardy served as project director.
Since its inception, the Collaborative for Rural STEM Education has worked to strengthen STEM instruction in rural schools by equipping educators with resources, training and professional networks that support student success and inspire innovative teaching practices. For more information about STEM programs at Delta State University, visit deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/.
