It began with a dream. One decade later, the collective vision of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools continues to improve lives and inform policy.
CYFS hosted a 10th anniversary breakfast Nov. 19 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and recognized partners in its mission to enhance the lives of children and families. The celebration opened with remarks from Ronnie Green, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Marjorie Kostelnik, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences; and Prem Paul, vice president for research and economic development.
“The dream was to create a center that focused on children, youth, families and schools, and the perennial problems that they face,” Kostelnik said. “Our success shows that Nebraska is a place where we can have dreams backed up by practical ideas and support.”
The center has received 129 research grants since its inception in 2004, totaling more than $54 million. Susan Sheridan, CYFS director, credits the center’s success to widespread collaboration.
“One thing we realized from the very start is that we are in this together,” Sheridan said. “We have continuously enlisted the support and expertise of remarkable scholars, families, educators, administrators and organizations. These collaborations have inspired, encouraged and sustained us — and continue to guide our course.”
The anniversary breakfast featured keynote speaker Thomas Brock, commissioner of the National Center for Education Research in the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. He discussed “Education Funding, Research and Opportunity,” and the futures of IES and CYFS, which share similar goals to improve education research.
“The work of CYFS is exemplary, including the close partnerships you’ve established with schools and the salient issues you’re researching,” Brock said. “The center is distinctive in its hands-on efforts to change policy and move it in positive directions. It is reflective of the work IES wants to support increasingly as we move forward.”
Brock also acknowledged the impact and leadership of the National Center for Research on Rural Education (R2Ed), housed within CYFS. He attended last year’s National Conference on Rural Education Research, “Connect-Inform-Advance,” hosted by R2Ed.
“It was a great pleasure to attend the rural education conference, with its active dialogue between researchers and practitioners,” Brock said. “I use this conference as an example for other research and development centers.”
CYFS leadership in rural education research, including its partnership with more than 250 rural schools, is just one dimension of its multi-faceted focus. More than 400 schools in rural, suburban and urban districts, and 121 inter-disciplinary faculty affiliates have contributed to its research.
The center continues to enlist collaborative support — and continues to dream.
“We look forward with a decade’s worth of evidence, expectation and enthusiasm,” Sheridan said. “We know that our past represents just a preview of our future. It is just the beginning.”
10th Anniversary Video
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