Giving Compass' Take:

• Education Dive reports on how rural schools in North Carolina are using the mantra of 'I don't know how to do this, but I'll find a way' to expanding learning opportunities with limited resources in their district.

• How can funders use their network to help school districts strategic goals, especially in low-income neighborhoods? 

Here's how to engage in successful rural philanthropy. 


With a career that includes over a decade as a principal in Wake County, North Carolina, and a stint as a transformation coach for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Greene County Schools Chief Academic Officer Frank Creech is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities in front of the state's schools.

For a rural, low-income district like Greene County, where funding can sometimes be tight, the challenges are amplified by a lack of resources and access to experiences outside of the immediate community for many students.

"We have to be pretty innovative in how we go about trying to serve our students and to make sure our students and families have the same quality opportunities for kids to extend their learning as students in an urban district or a better-funded district may have," Creech said.

Creech detailed the growth mindset that exists at the district level, opportunities presented through a handful of initiatives, and the importance of breaking down silos between instruction and IT offices.

Read the full article about the power of partnerships by Roger Riddell at Education Dive.