College of Education Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Lead Tennessee Rural Principals Network

Three-year program from the Tennessee Department of Education to enhance leadership skills for 450 rural school principals

Belmont University's College of Education has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Education to lead and facilitate the Tennessee Rural Principals Network (TRPN) over the next three years. This initiative aims to provide professional learning opportunities, leadership coaching and peer-to-peer connection for up to 450 school principals in rural communities across the state.

This initiative aligns with Belmont University's aspirational aim to form diverse leaders of character, equip them to solve complex challenges through teaching and service, and help communities flourish. 

"We are excited about this impactful and mission-aligned initiative," said Dr. Jim McIntyre, Dean of the College of Education and Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence at Belmont University. "The Tennessee Rural Principals Network has enormous potential as a growth and capacity-building mechanism for rural school leaders, positively impacting the students, families and communities they serve. The Tennessee Department of Education has increased their investment in this important effort, enabling us to serve and support even more rural school leaders across the state."

The TRPN, established in 2018, focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by over 293,000 K-12 students in rural communities. Through ongoing professional development, peer exchange and communities of practice, the TRPN seeks to reduce isolation and identify best practices for rural education.

An announcement from the TDOE stated: “With Tennessee hosting the fifth-largest number of rural students nationwide, this initiative is crucial in fostering educational leadership where it's needed most. Belmont's proposal stood out in our rigorous selection process, promising a comprehensive and research-based approach to enhance the instructional leadership, retention, and effectiveness of rural principals.”

Belmont University’s College of Education will collaborate with the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine to incorporate a rural health and leader wellness module into the training. The University will also partner with WestEd and Education Resource Strategies to develop and deliver other components of the professional development programming.