BOONE, N.C.—Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education (RCOE) will partner with Middle Fork Elementary School in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School (WS/FCS) district on a new laboratory school that will open during the 2018-19 school year. Middle Fork has named Tasha Hall Powell the school’s new principal.

Powell has served as assistant principal at Middle Fork since 2015. Before coming to Middle Fork, she was curriculum coordinator at Cook Elementary School and served as an instructional facilitator in the district office. She held a prior position as assistant principal in Cabarrus County from 2001 to 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a master’s and Education Specialist degree from Appalachian.

Appalachian was selected as one of eight institutions within the University of North Carolina system charged with establishing a laboratory school in districts with more than 25 percent of schools identified according to state guidelines as “low performing.” The University of North Carolina Board of Governors selected Appalachian because of the quality of its educator preparation program.

The RCOE and WS/FCS have a history of collaboration. The college has maintained a presence in the area since 2000, with literacy as a focus for teacher professional development. For example, the college’s reading education master’s program has offered courses in Winston-Salem since 2002, and many area teachers hold the M.A. degree and reading licensure from Appalachian.

This partnership, which was formalized through a joint agreement negotiated in 2014 and 2015 and signed in 2016 by Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of the Reich College of Education, and Dr. Beverly Emory, WS/FCS superintendent, provides support for literacy professional development to school system teachers.

The RCOE and WS/FCS considered the legislative mandate as an opportunity to build on their existing partnership, and the RCOE intends to work with the district in finding the best approach for meeting the needs of the children, communities and staff.

“We have an existing partnership with ASU that creates a strong foundation moving into the Lab School collaboration,” said Emory. “Creating a learning environment that allows for creative strategies to improve student outcomes and to develop innovative educators is an opportunity we embrace.”

In accordance with N.C. House Bill 1030, Appalachian’s Board of Trustees will oversee the lab school, including establishing an advisory board, the academic program for the school and standards of performance and conduct for the school. The implementation team for the lab school will spend the 2017-18 academic year in several stages of planning.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools set new residential school designations ahead of partnership with Appalachian State

Winston-Salem Journal

Jan. 23, 2018

Middle Fork Elementary is one of nine schools in North Carolina selected to partner with a state university as part of a turnaround effort. The school will be in this partnership for the next five years, and will be known as Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork with a literary focus.

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Middle Fork to partner with App State for school conversion in 2018-19

Winston-Salem Journal

Nov. 9, 2017

In a year, Middle Fork Elementary School will have a new name and several new staff members as part of an effort to improve student literacy and overall test scores. The school was chosen as one of nine laboratory schools in North Carolina. All schools selected are low-performing K-8 schools and are partnering with a state university for five years — in Middle Fork Elementary’s situation, it will work with Appalachian State University.

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Appalachian one of 8 UNC institutions to host Laboratory School, will partner with Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools to advance literacy

Jan. 20, 2017

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors selected Appalachian because of the quality of its educator preparation program.

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About the Reich College of Education

Appalachian offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education (RCOE) enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. With so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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