RSC Welcomes New Emergent Educators’ Advisory Council
Rural Schools Collaborative is proud to announce our 2024-25 Cohort of Emergent Rural Educators.
Each year, RSC Hubs have the opportunity to nominate newer (first 1-3 years teaching) teachers to RSC’s Emergent Educators’ Advisory Council. This year, nine hub representatives join the RSC community to share their experiences in rural classrooms, learn about Place-Based Education and grant writing, and collaborate with the RSC team on exciting storytelling projects.
Since 2020, Rural Schools Collaborative has provided a platform for directly listening to and learning from rural teachers, especially those in their first few years of teaching. This project, called the Young Educators Advisory Council, featured two cohorts of around 10 teachers each that ran from 2020-22, and 2022-24. Now Rural Schools Collaborative is excited to announce an updated platform for rural educators of all pathways to contribute their expertise and share their experiences with the wider RSC community: The 2024-25 Emergent Educators’ Advisory Council (EEAC).
Each Emergent Educator comes from an RSC Regional Hub, and was recommended by a hub lead in their respective regions. They completed an online application process, and are joining the council on a one-year term that runs through the school year. The council will meet bi-monthly to share experiences, form a professional learning community, and build relationships. This work is supported by the RSC team, but is reliant on the generosity of our hub partners for their thoughtful nominations and commitment to always finding avenues to engage with Rural Schools Collaborative.
The EEAC features a few key changes from past iterations of the council, the first of which aims to be representative of the myriad ways in which dedicated rural leaders become credentialed classroom teachers. Many newer teachers are career changers, like 2024 Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year Winner Todd Willis. Others have worked in education for decades, in support roles, early childhood education, or as paraprofessionals, before acquiring a teaching license and leading their own classroom.
Additionally, Rural Schools Collaborative is excited to now provide dedicated professional development opportunities as a core feature of the council. With expertise lended from within RSC’s network of rural education advocates and experts, the councilors will receive focused lessons in Place-Based Education and grant writing. RSC believes that both Place-Based Education and grant writing are skills that can transform a teacher’s capacity to foster unique and meaningful learning experiences for rural students, and are excited to grow our network of Place-Based Education advocates.
This year’s council features nine educators, hailing from RSC Regional Hub Network partners in Appalachia, Arkansas & Delta, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana Great Lakes, Kansas, Missouri Ozarks, Northern Rockies, and the Pacific Northwest. The grades they teach vary, from early elementary through high school, and subjects from physical sciences to special education. For full biographies, locations, and more, read their individual pages here. While Rural Schools Collaborative will be introducing them one by one via social media platforms in the coming weeks, here is a sampling of why they are excited to join the council:
“I’m really excited to learn how to be a better educator for my rural students and also learn how I can help other rural schools in the state of Kansas become better than they already are.” -Mayci Armstrong, Manhattan, KS
“I’m excited to be here to find people that have ideas and are willing to share them while having the same common vision to spark interest and some excitement into rural schools.” -Charles Lallatin, Lyman, WY
“I’m glad and very humbled to be part of this program.” -Clara Hellums-Jackson, Dumas, AR
“Just because we are a rural school, just because we are small, doesn’t mean our kids can’t have the experiences that they deserve.” -Alyssa Howe, Leopold, IN
“I have always wanted to be a teacher because I have a passion for seeing people be the best versions of themselves. I love helping them grow to become that version. I am incredibly excited to be able to impact my rural school district and help the students learn about themselves as well as the world around them.” -Bethany Allen, Monmouth, IL
“Providing those opportunities that students wouldn’t normally have in their everyday lifestyle, I think is super important. That’s how you get students to invest in their learning.” -Logan Nedrow, North Powder, OR
Rural Schools Collaborative is deeply thankful to all of our hub partners who nominated EEAC members, and would like thank April Miller, Brandon Lucius, Dave Dallas, Janet Boyle, Leslie Cook, Melissa Sadorf, Spencer Clark, Rhonda Bishop, and Tammy La Prad for nominating this year's council. Special additional thank you to Dave Dallas and the entire Eastern Oregon University’s School of Education for providing continuing education credits for this council. Learn more about RSC’s Regional Hub leaders.