NW Missouri Times

The Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) at Northwest Missouri State University has secured a $315,000 grant to address disparities in educational opportunities between urban and rural school districts. The funding will support the Success Ready Students Network–Northwest Missouri Collaborative (SRSN-NW) and launch the Real-World Education for All Learners initiative, a three-year program designed to create partnerships among local school districts, businesses, higher education institutions, and community leaders.

According to Dr. Jennee Gregory, director of the Northwest RPDC, “This effort addresses a critical need across our 15-county region by expanding real-world learning opportunities that prepare students for life beyond high school. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the Patterson Family Foundation and their mission of ‘working together to help rural communities thrive.’ Their support empowers us to partner meaningfully with schools, businesses and community leaders to build equitable, future-focused learning ecosystems across northwest Missouri.”

The new project is part of a broader statewide strategy supported by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which encourages real-world learning experiences and competency-based education models that have been effective in more urbanized settings.

Over its three-year duration, the initiative will offer monthly virtual professional development sessions, site visits to schools and businesses, seasonal conventions, and summer institutes. Organizers plan to strengthen regional partnerships, share best practices with other educators, and develop strategic plans aimed at replicating successful approaches elsewhere in Missouri.

Jay Albright, a project assistant with the Northwest RPDC and convener for SRSN-NW Missouri said: “The generosity of the Patterson Family Foundation will support initiatives that further connect northwest Missouri schools with deeper real-world learning opportunities for students at all levels. This inspirational work is helping to reimagine the school experience to ensure all students are 21st-century ready. We cannot say thank you enough for this opportunity to continue building the capacity of students, teachers and administrators.”

Currently serving 59 school districts across 15 counties in northwest Missouri, the Northwest RPDC’s new project could benefit more than 30,000 K-12 students through expanded access to career-focused educational experiences.

Dr. Sandy Steggall, superintendent of Clinton County R-III School District and an SRSN convener commented: “The Patterson Family Foundation grant will allow us to expand real-world learning opportunities across the entire Northwest region, equipping educators with the tools, resources and confidence to connect classroom learning to future careers. This investment will strengthen our schools, build educator capacity and unite our communities in preparing students for the opportunities ahead.”

In addition to providing ongoing professional development for educators throughout northwest Missouri’s public schools system, organizers expect that families as well as local employers and civic organizations will also see positive effects from increased collaboration on student success initiatives.