Penn State College of Education — by Joe Savrock

Smethport Area School District is winner of the sixth annual Building Community through Rural Education Award, sponsored by Penn State’s Center on Rural Education and Communities (CREC) and the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS).

The award recognizes a rural school or school district in Pennsylvania that has distinguished itself through innovative practices contributing to the educational experiences for the students it serves, while collaborating with the broader community for the benefit of all.

Smethport was chosen for its educational initiatives that explore local history. The school district used interactive Web technology — Planet Smethport — to create, explore, and document local history and historical transformations of the Smethport area through constructivist, collaborative, and place-based education.

Two other school districts will receive honorable mention awards this year in recognition of their school-community initiatives: Ridgway Area School District for an innovative school-community arts partnership, and Chambersburg Area School District for its workforce development and energy conservation initiatives.

This year’s awards will be presented jointly by CREC and PARSS at the PARSS Annual Meeting April 30 in State College.