Why Rural Schools Matter

Why Rural Schools Matter

Harvard doctoral candidate visits Earle for research

Earle High School Mara Casey Tieken was a candidate in the Doctoral Program at Harvard University, for her dissertation she took the opportunity to research the importance of the local school district in two rural communities: Delight, Arkansas, and Earle, Arkansas.

During her research project Mara made many visits and held many conversations with various members of the two communities. Her thought was to compare communities of similar demographics including the educational process, Mara expressed how fortunate she was to have had the experience of writing about Earle and the many positive things that are in place in Earle School System.

Mara made a monetary donation to the Parental Involvement concept of the Earle School District for supplies that support the students in their educational process.Her donation came from the proceeds the sale of the book. Mara is now on staff as assistant professor of Education at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and was not able to make the donation in person so one of her liaison, Dorothy Singleton, came and presented the gift to the Earle School District.

From Claudie Maples