CREER 2023

CREER, which means “to believe” in Spanish, is an invitee event supported by the Spencer Foundation that convenes scholars, educators (including teachers, leaders, counselors, paraeducators, and administrators), and community-based organizations and advocates from across the United States who work with English or multilingual learners (ELs) in rural schools and communities. As a diverse group, we will collaborate over a two-day working period to exchange knowledge, ideas, expertise, and best practices, with the goal of setting a national agenda for education and research aimed at improving the quality of education, learning, and social and emotional well-being for rural EL students and their families.

The goal of setting a national agenda for education and research aimed at improving the quality of education, learning outcomes, and well-being for rural EL students and their families. 

The specific objectives of the 2023 CREER conference are as follows:

1. Examine the state of research and current practices among educators of English /multilingual learners (ELs) in rural settings.
2. Identify promising educational practices to support the academic learning and well-being of rural EL students and their families.
3. Establish a plan to develop well-prepared educators and leaders of rural ELs through effective professional learning experiences and exchanges.
4. Build a national research agenda that advances programs, policies and practices for and with educators and advocates of rural ELs.

An essential aspect of this conference is fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration among scholars, educators, and community agencies.

The conference will provide opportunities for networking and aligning areas of interest and strengths among participants. We will work together enhance our collective knowledge base and develop viable solutions to current challenges in rural EL education.