Regional Hubs

Working together to build strong and sustainable rural communities.

Rural School Collaborative “Hubs” provide a flexible and cost-effective infrastructure for the organization. The relationships between the Hubs and RSC are mutually beneficial.

RSC and its Hub partners work together by:

  • sharing stories and information;
  • working together on authentic projects;
  • exploring funding opportunities to support rural schools and communities;
  • collaborating on signature efforts like Grants in Place and Rural Teach Corps.

Hub Contact Directory

Alabama & The Black Belt

Jan Miller

Contact: Jan Miller, University of West Alabama

Programs & Expertise:
• Black Belt Teacher Corps
• High School Teacher Cadet Program
• Doctorate in Rural Education Degree
• Grantwriting and evaluation

Appalachia: Kentucky Lead

April Miller

Contact: April Miller, Morehead State University

Programs & Expertise:
• Appalachian Future Educators
• Family and grandparent engagement
• Literacy instruction

Appalachia: Tennessee Lead

Allen Pratt

Contact: Allen Pratt, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Programs & Expertise:
• STEM Education Pathway
• Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Program
• ESL/K-5 Dual certification programs
• Career and Technical Education and Job-embedded programs

Arkansas Delta

Brandon Lucius

Contact: Brandon Lucius, Arkansas Teacher Corps

Programs & Expertise:
• Novice teacher recruitment & retention
• Professional learning & coaching
• Educator wellness & social-emotional learning

Arkansas Delta

Candace Williams

Contact: Candace Williams, The Rural Community Alliance

Programs & Expertise:
• Rural organizing & community coalition building
• Youth empowerment
• Community schools

Arizona

Melissa Sadorf

Contact: Melissa Sadorf, Arizona Rural Schools Association & Northern Arizona University

Programs & Expertise:
• Northern Arizona University Rural School Resource Center
• Leadership development and mentoring
• Culture and Climate building
• Federal Grants Management

Driftless Region

Lindsay Hollingsworth

Contact: Lindsay Hollingsworth, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Programs & Expertise:
• Rural elementary and middle education degree
• DEI experts and initiatives
• Podcasting and technology in rural spaces

Illinois

Tammy LaPrad

Contact: Tammy La Prad, Monmouth College

Programs & Expertise:
• TARTANS Rural Teacher Corps
• Educational Garden & Farm
• Community engagement and relations

Illinois

Josh Gibb

Contact: Josh Gibb, Galesburg Community Foundation

Programs & Expertise:
• Community funds and local philanthropy
• Need-based community resources
• Non-profit relations

Indiana & Great Lakes

Jeremy Eltz

Contact: Jeremy Eltz, University of Indianapolis Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning

Programs & Expertise:
• Rural Early College Network
• Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline
• STEM, project-based learning, and special education supports
• Legislation and lobbying

Iowa

Jason Neises

Contact: Jason Neises, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

Programs & Expertise:
• Community Heart & Soul
• Grade level reading
• Brain health
• Rural equity and inclusion

Kansas

Spencer Clark

Contact: Spencer Clark, Kansas State University

Programs & Expertise:
• ED ASTRA
• Rural classroom technology initiatives
• Rural school networking
• Federal grants

Missouri Ozarks

Barri Tinkler

Contact: Barri Tinkler, Missouri State University

Programs & Expertise:
• MSU Center for Rural Education
• Pathways for Paraprofessionals Registered Apprenticeship Program
• Global and Rural Education
• Community-Engaged Practice

Missouri Ozarks

Beth Hersh

Contact: Beth Hersh, Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Programs & Expertise:
• School foundations
• Youth philanthropy
• Ozarks Teacher Corps

New England

Cat Biddle

Contact: Cat Biddle, University of Maine

Programs & Expertise:
• Mental health supports and trauma-responsive approaches
• Rural and small school climate and equity issues
• Rural education research and policy

North Dakota

Mike Heilman

Contact: Mike Heilman, North Dakota Small Organized Schools

Programs & Expertise:
• Bus Driver Training Assistance
• North Dakota Center for Distance Education Courses
• Rural education policy and advocacy

Northern California

Susan Schroth

Contact: Susan Schroth, North State Together

Programs & Expertise:
• K-16 Education Collaborative
• Grantwriting and management
• Collective impact & upstream interventions

Northern California

Karen Schreder

Contact: Karen Schreder, California State University-Chico

Programs & Expertise:
• CLASS Program
• Rural student support and rural community positivity
• Eco-social justice & post-trauma responses

Northern Rockies

Leslie Cook

Contact: Leslie Cook, Teton Science Schools

Programs & Expertise:
• Place-based education
• Virtual and in-person teacher professional learning programs
• Rural school connections: locally and through the national Place Network

Pacific Northwest

Dave Dallas

Contact: Dave Dallas, Eastern Oregon University

Programs & Expertise:
• Rural, place-based teacher preparation
• Science of reading
• Virtual and hybrid programming
• Trauma-informed approaches and STEAM education

Southeast

Kristen Cuthrell

Contact: Kristen Cuthrell, East Carolina University

Programs & Expertise:
• Justice-oriented rural educator recruitment and preparation
• Rural school counselor preparation & social-emotional health practices
• Rural education research & evaluation