Teacher seeks district permission to conduct doctoral research on family engagement in rural schools

Carol (Kara) Leslie, a seventh-grade ELA teacher and doctoral candidate at Point Park University, requested district permission Tuesday to conduct her dissertation research in Punxsutawney schools. The study, she said, is tentatively titled "Engaging Families, Empowering Students: A Study of Family–School Partnerships in the Rural Community," and uses a qualitative action-research design grounded in appreciative inquiry.

Leslie described the study's goals: "The purpose of my study is to explore how educators in our district perceive and implement family engagement practices... to identify what's working well, what barriers exist, and how we can enhance authentic partnerships between families and schools." She told the board she plans to work with 8 to 12 volunteer educators across grade levels, using short reflections, interviews and a collaborative focus session; she expects the window to run, tentatively, from January through mid-March pending university and district approvals.

Board members asked about timeline and reporting. Leslie said she would provide an overview of findings to the board when the study is complete. Several directors voiced support: one said she believed Leslie has "full board support" and commended the project as a model for lifelong learning.

Why this matters: Action-research projects can provide district-specific findings to improve family engagement practices and professional learning. Leslie emphasized the rural context, noting that strategies that succeed in suburban or urban districts may need adaptation for rural communities with greater geographic distance and different schedules.