Leading Place-Based Education to Strengthen Rural Student Pathways

At Holden Rural Academy, Alberta's first place-based charter school, learning is organized around the principle that "the place is the teacher." The school has developed a model that ties student learning directly to community, work, and postsecondary pathways. This session will share insights from a multi-year research–practice partnership between researchers from the Werklund School of Education and Holden Rural Academy. Participants will hear how school leadership practices, ranging from designing curriculum with community partners to protecting time for work placements, are shaping student readiness for both postsecondary education and rural workforce futures. We will highlight successes, tensions, and practical leadership lessons that can be adapted to other contexts.