In November, ATC teacher development manager Nneka Love (ATC ’19) and alumna Ava Hollins-Rogers (ATC ’20) traveled to Henderson, North Carolina as part of the Teach For America Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA). During the trip, participants visited Henderson Collegiate, a free K-12 college preparatory public charter school dedicated to transforming rural public education for low-income families in North Carolina.

“I learned so many valuable things about place, creating a positive school culture, and how to move a school,” Nneka said about the experience. “To hear students speak with such a high level of pride about their school community really warmed my heart and motivates me even more to help support my teachers in creating a classroom environment/culture their students can be proud to call their own.”

RSLA is a fully sponsored fellowship for current and aspiring school leaders working in rural communities. RSLA participants engage with a supportive and inspirational cohort of leaders from across the country to deepen the skills necessary to amplify and sustain their work in rural education. This is their second site visit of the year after traveling to New Mexico in July.