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Principals’ Responsibility for Helping Impoverished Students Succeed in Rural Appalachia

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Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Abstract

Authentic and effective family engagement requires intense commitment from school principals in economically distressed areas. This chapter focuses on what principals do to form strong school–family relationships that potentially improve the overall success of students living in impoverished rural communities. Interview data pertaining to six principals serving Title I elementary schools in Appalachia were analyzed for the original qualitative research described. Strategies practicing principals use to strengthen their school culture through school–family relationships were identified through their reflective self-reports. The findings shed light on principals’ roles in fostering and improving key relationships, and advocating for student achievement and overall success. This study contributes to research on school–family partnerships from the practicing principal’s experiential viewpoint. The particular attention given to rural Appalachia may have value beyond this geographic region for other ruralities challenged by poverty.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English Language Learners, Grayson County Public Schools, Galax, VA, USA

    Emily T. Boyles

  2. College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, School of Education, VTCRC, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Carol A. Mullen

Authors
  1. Emily T. Boyles
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  2. Carol A. Mullen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol A. Mullen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Carol A. Mullen

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Boyles, E.T., Mullen, C.A. (2020). Principals’ Responsibility for Helping Impoverished Students Succeed in Rural Appalachia. In: Mullen, C. (eds) Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_93-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_93-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29553-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29553-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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