Meet Our New Executive Director
We are pleased to name Taylor McCabe-Juhnke our new Executive Director
The Rural Schools Collaborative board of directors has announced that Taylor McCabe-Juhnke will become RSC’s new Executive Director on July 1, 2021.
Taylor has served as RSC’s Co-Director since March, and prior to that she supported RSC as a Rural Teacher Corps Fellow in 2016. Taylor will be based out of RSC’s office at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, and she replaces Gary Funk, who has served in the director’s role since 2016.
Carol Silvey, RSC board chair, shared her colleagues’ enthusiasm for Taylor’s appointment. “Taylor has a proven and extensive background in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors, and her rural roots give her a wonderful perspective for this important leadership position.” Silvey added, “In addition, Taylor grew up in a family of teachers, and she has a passion for strengthening the bonds between rural schools and their respective communities.”
Taylor’s public service work began at the Audubon Society in Madison, Wisconsin where she spearheaded the communications strategy in support of regional conservation. She continued her nonprofit career managing partnerships, events, and marketing at United Way of King County in Seattle, Washington.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Taylor supported several organizations in the healthcare sector. As a Project Manager at Epic Systems, Taylor oversaw IT software implementations to improve patient care. She then went on to manage a large team as the Engagement Manager at Seattle Children’s Hospital before returning to Rural Schools Collaborative as the Co-Director.
When asked about stepping into the Executive Director role, Taylor said, “I am honored to pick up the baton from Gary. Our staff has a unique opportunity to build upon the strong foundation already in place - my hope is our team will continue to find innovative ways to deepen our support of rural communities.”
Gary Funk was a founding board member of RSC, and will remain with RSC as a Strategic Advisor with a specific focus on the new National Rural Imperative project, which is funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Funk noted, “I cannot tell you how pleased I am that RSC is in a position to bring on a talented and caring person like Taylor. Building an organization that can bring the energy and vision of a young and talented staff to rural America has been our dream from the get-go, and I am so grateful that Taylor is willing to take on this leadership opportunity.”
The Rural Schools Collaborative was launched in 2015. It is made up of 11 Regional Hubs and is committed to building sustainable rural communities through a keen focus on place, teachers, and philanthropy.