Talent isn't the problem for rural students. Access is | Kirsten Lane Oct 1, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Kirsten Lane Submitted kAmpD 9:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD 862C FA 7@C E96 9FDE=6 2?5 8C:?5 @7 E96 4@==686 25>:DD:@?D AC@46DD[ E96 6IA6C:6?46 42? 36 5:776C6?E 7@C DEF56?ED :? CFC2= 2?5 FC32? 2C62]k^AmkAm(96? x H2D 2446AE65 E@ '2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJ :? a_ab[ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD :? >J CFC2= r6?E6CG:==6[ %6??6DD66[ 9:89 D49@@= H6C6 D9@4<65i p 8:C= 7C@> @FC 5:DEC:4E 925 ?@E 366? 25>:EE65 :? @G6C ad J62CD]k^AmkAm%96 BF2:?E E@H? 92D @?=J @?6 9:89 D49@@=[ 3FE :E 3@C56CD @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D H62=E9:6DE 4@F?E:6D[ (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ] r6?E6CG:==6[ H96C6 x 8C6H FA[ :D ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC D@FE9H6DE @7 }2D9G:==6[ H96C6 '2?56C3:=E[ @?6 @7 E96 %@A `_ D49@@=D :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ :D =@42E65]k^Am The Duck River flows through rural Centerville, Tennessee, where students lack the resources of their suburban and urban peers. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean kAm$9@4< D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E96 5672F=E C624E:@? H96? 2 DEF56?E 7C@> 2 CFC2= D49@@= DF44665D]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell County Manager Ashley Wooten submits resignation Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory McDowell Sheriff’s deputies pursue suspect in short chase Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer Baptists on Mission dedicates new Marion Rebuild Center at former Camping World complex 5 cabins open in Old Fort as first phase of Grier Village retreat development Old Fort woman charged with possession, trafficking; 50 grams of meth seized Marion family turns a son’s cancer journey into a creamery with a cause McDowell commissioners appoint Will Kehler as interim county manager Litigants named in 'Cornell 7' assault lawsuit McDowell commissioners appoint Maggie Frye as new register of deeds McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home McDowell County Schools alum completes undergrad in 2 years, starts master's program NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say Emerging stronger: Baxter plant in North Cove looks back at recovery from Hurricane Helene kAm(9:=6 r6?E6CG:==6 :D :? 4=@D6 AC@I:>:EJ E@ '2?56C3:=E[ E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D @776C65 E@ DEF56?ED 5@?’E DE24< FA E@ E9@D6 :? 36EE6C\C6D@FC465 A=246D] xEVD ?@E 2>3:E:@? 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CFC2= DEF56?ED H9@ 5@ >2?286 E@ AC@G6 E96>D6=G6D E@ 6=:E6 F?:G6CD:EJ 25>:DD:@?D @77:46CD DE:== 7246 9FC5=6D]k^Am kAm#FC2= DEF56?ED >2J ?@E 92G6 366? 6IA@D65 E@ H92E uC6?49 E96@C:DE !:6CC6 q@FC5:6F 42==D 4F=EFC2= 42A:E2=[ ?@?\7:?2?4:2= 2DD6ED =:<6 A6CD@?2= <?@H=6586[ D<:==D 2?5 E2DE6D E92E :?7=F6?46 D@4:2= >@3:=:EJ] p DEF56?E 7C@> 2? 6=:E6 9:89 D49@@= >2J =62C? E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 =6256CD9:A[ 4C:E:42= E9:?<:?8 2?5 ?6EH@C<:?8] |62?H9:=6[ 2? F?56C7F?565 9:89 D49@@= =:<6 >:?6 @7E6? E62496D 2 4FCC:4F=F> 7@4FD65 @? 7@==@H:?8 DE6A\3J\DE6A :?DECF4E:@?D 2?5 @C56C]k^Am kAm%9:D >62?D E92E >J A66CD 2?5 x H6C6 AC6AA65 7@C E96 H@C<7@C46 367@C6 H6 6G6C C62=:K65 :E]k^Am kAmx?G6DE:?8 :? CFC2= D49@@=D :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ 249:6G:?8 2 H@C=5 H96C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2C6 2446DD:3=6 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] #FC2= D49@@=D :? %6??6DD66 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 =@H6DE =6G6=D @7 DA6?5:?8 :? 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E96:C D49@@=D’ =24< @7 7F?5:?8 2?5 C6D@FC46D[ 2?5 E9FD E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E96J >:89E 92G6 2446DD E@] x7 H6 H@C< E@ 4=@D6 E96D6 82AD[ E96? @?6 52J :E >:89E ?@E D66> D@ D9@4<:?8 H96? 2 8:C= 7C@> 2 D>2== E@H? 86ED :?E@ 96C 5C62> D49@@=]k^Am Lane is a junior at Vanderbilt University. She wrote this for the Nashville Tennessean and USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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