Rural Education Alliance for Leadership Institute (REAL Institute)

About the REAL Institute

The Rural Education Alliance for Leadership (REAL) Institute is designed to help local communities and educational agencies come together in efforts to support the needs of rural schools.


  • Through discussions, forums, and guest speakers, school district teachers and members of the Institute immerse themselves in understanding the challenges rural communities encounter.
  • The REAL Institute serves as a catalyst for change within rural school districts, equipping educators and stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources to enact meaningful action.
  • One of the Institute's central objectives is to facilitate dialogue with key stakeholders, ensuring informed policymaking and educational initiatives tailored to the unique needs of rural areas.

As a school district, you have the opportunity to join as a REAL member, providing access to member benefits for all your employees.  View the list of current member institutions.

 

 

Tree Banner

Unlock Exclusive Benefits: Membership Perks at a Glance

  • Reduced rate for Act 45 PIL hours
  • 25% tuition discount for all teachers and staff of REAL member schools who enroll in Graduate Education, Graduate Business, or Division of Professional Studies online programs
  • Exclusive invitation to guest lectures
  • Special invitation to legislative forums
  • Workforce development programming
  • Access to online education repository 

To receive the benefits listed above, your school district must enroll as a member of the institute for a two-year period ($500/year). Register below.

Become a REAL Member

If your school system is interested in exploring a REAL membership, please feel free to reach out to:


 Mr. William Marshall
Executive Director of the REAL Institute
wmarshall@francis.edu
 

Dr. Melissa Peppetti
Director of Graduate Education
mpeppetti@francis.edu

Our Member Institutions


  • Admiral Peary AVTS
  • Altoona Area School District
  • Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Schools
    • Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
    • Bishop McCort Catholic Academy
  • Bald Eagle Area School District
  • Bellwood-Antis School District
  • Bishop Guilfoyle Academy
  • Blacklick Valley School District
  • Cambria Heights School District
  • Central Cambria School District
  • Conemaugh Valley School District
  • Forest Hills School District
  • Glendale  School District
  • Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center
  • Greater Johnstown School District
  • Harmony Area School District
  • Hollidaysburg Area School District
  • Ignite Education Solutions Learning Lamp
  • Indiana Area School District
  • Juniata Valley School District
  • Moshannon Valley School District
  • Milton Hershey School
  • Northern Cambria School District
  • Penn Cambria School District
  • Penn-Mont Academy
  • Portage Area School District
  • Spring Cove School District
  • Tyrone Area School District
  • West Branch Area School District
  • Windber Area School District

Our Executive Committee 


Community Participants

  • Dr. Jennifer Anderson Assistant Executive Director
    Appalachia Intermediate Unit 08
  • Dr. Francine Endler Adjunct Professor, SFU
  • Ms. Brandy O’Hare Superintendent
    Moshannon Valley SD
  • Dr. Bob Gildea Chief Education Officer
    Bishop Guilfoyle High School
  • Dr. Hobart Harmon Leader of Strategic Advancement
    Appalachia Intermediate Unit 08
  • Dr. Mike Vukovitch Superintendent
    Windber SD

Saint Francis University Participants

  • Dr. Frank Montecalvo Vice President, Innovative Partnerships & Student Development
  • Dr. Melissa Peppetti Director of Graduate Education
  • Dr. Kerri Golden Dean, School of Health Sciences and Education
  • Dr. Peter Skoner Former Dean of STEAM
  • Dr. Tricia McFadden Executive Director of Ed.D.
  • Mr. William Marshall Executive Director, REAL
    Rural Outreach Liaison

Engage, Empower, Excel with REAL

Through various initiatives, the REAL Institute actively fosters community engagement and intellectual enrichment by sponsoring diverse activities, from community outreach endeavors to guest speakers.  

 

REAL Institute News

Blog

Educators meet for AI Forum hosted by SFU REAL Institute

Dr. Melissa Peppetti, Director of Graduate Education | 10/01/2025
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping education, and school leaders play a critical role in guiding its impact. SFU's Rural Education Alliance for Leadership (REAL) Institute fall workshop examined opportunities and challenges of AI in classrooms, school operations, and district leadership.

A new high school sport that connects all the students

University Communications & Marketing | 03/25/2024
On the March 10 episode of Kaleidoscope, host Sara Cameron introduced viewers to Unified Bocce Ball, a competitive co-ed high school sport similar to lawn ball that taking hold in the region.

Unified Bocce Ball: A Journey of Unity and Joy 

William W. Marshall, Penn Cambria School District | 01/26/2024
The Penn Cambria School District Superintendent shares the emotional "why" of how he brought an activity that showcases the power of unity and inclusion to his students by partnering with Saint Francis University's Rural Education Alliance for Leadership (REAL) Institute.

SFU's Rural Education Alliance for Leadership Institute Hosts National Expert

University Communications & Marketing | 11/29/2023
Saint Francis University's Rural Education Alliance for Leadership (REAL) Institute invited Dr. Richard Ingersoll, a leading national expert on America’s elementary and secondary teaching force, to address a crowd more than 70 educational leaders on Nov. 16, 2023.

Addressing the Teacher Shortage: SFU and TEACH

Dr. Melissa Peppetti | 05/09/2023
While the teaching crisis impacts all locales, rural schools are having issues finding teachers for specific classes and grade spans, especially the disciplines of math and science. Saint Francis University's Graduate Education Department is committed to improving teacher quality by offering research-based solutions that may serve as viable solutions to the teacher shortage.