Joel Boettger

Joel Boettger began his work as a Strategic Fellow with Rural Schools Collaborative in May 2026. A native of rural Kansas, he is the product of high quality, small-town education and rural-serving higher education.

Joel brings a decade of experience at all levels of higher education, where he served as an associate professor and department chair at a rural-serving institution for eight years. His experience includes curriculum writing, comprehensive curriculum revision, and college-wide assessment and strategic planning initiatives. He has additional expertise in coordinating complex projects across faculty, administrators, and external agencies, including the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). He recently became a Certified Associate in Project Management through the Project Management Institute.

In addition to his work as a project manager and consultant, Joel continues to be a first-call saxophonist, composer, and woodwind teacher serving rural Kansas and the greater Wichita area. In his spare time you can find him composing, practicing, rowing, or drinking too many cups of delicious coffee. He is excited to continue his passion for rural education in a new capacity while furthering the mission of Rural Schools Collaborative.