REI hosts GRAD Partnership fall welcome back event for southeast region schools

Published Dec 23, 2025 by
Filed under: COE Events, Community Outreach, Counselor Education, Educational Leadership, Faculty News, General, Interdisciplinary Professions, News, Rural Education Institute
A group of five people standing in a circle on a wooden floor inside a large room, likely a conference or meeting space. One person is holding a tablet displaying an image, and others are engaged in conversation. There is a large projection screen in the background with blue text partially visible, and double doors with an exit sign above them on the left side of the image.
Participants gather in small sessions during the GRAD Partnership welcome back event.

The East Carolina University Rural Education Institute hosted the GRAD Partnership Fall Welcome Back event on October 9, at the ECU Main Student Center, bringing together the southeast region cohort to officially launch the 2025–26 school year. The event reaffirmed the ECU College of Education’s commitment to strengthening student success in rural schools under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Johnson, REI Director, Principal Investigator for Community Schools, and Phoebe Moore Dail Distinguished Professor in Rural Education.

The GRAD Partnership is a national initiative focused on building strong, data-driven Student Success Teams (SSTs) that support student engagement, belonging, and on-track progress toward graduation. Eastern North Carolina’s participation connects districts to a national learning community spanning 15 organizations and 14 states.

The 2025–26 southeast region cohort includes Ayden-Grifton High School, Farmville Central High School, Greene Central High School, Junius H. Rose High School, Kinston High School, North Pitt High School, Martin County High School, Northside High School, Southwest Edgecombe High School, and Pasquotank and Northeastern high schools of Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools.

The event opened with remarks from Jacqui Allen, GRAD Partnership southeast lead, outlining priorities for the coming year. Brief sessions were facilitated by Kate McPhee of the American Institutes for Research and Dr. Carrie Morris, GRAD Partnership regional partner, who provided targeted guidance on the GRAD framework, asset-based language and the use of storytelling to elevate student voice.

The event was also supported and facilitated with the assistance of Dr. Shawnda Cherry, REI associate director for student support services, and Dr. Loni Crumb, assistant professor in counselor education and REI research & innovation associate, whose expertise strengthened the focus on student support and equity-centered practices.

During the working lunch, attendees planned year 2 action steps, strengthened SST priorities, and prepared for 2026–27 regional virtual pods. The day concluded with next steps and sign-ups for individualized school visits and coaching support.