An Atlas of Good Work: RSC's Annual Report

THE 2018-19 ANNUAL REVIEW: AN ATLAS OF GOOD WORK

Rural, USA

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

We invite you to read our 2018-19 Annual Review: An Atlas of Good Work.

Dear Friends,

The Rural Schools Collaborative was launched in 2015 by a small group of rural school and community advocates. Our mission is straightforward—to strengthen the bonds between rural schools and communities through place-based engagement, rural philanthropy, and the development of teacher-leaders. RSC is led by a volunteer board of directors and includes nine Regional Hubs, which are located throughout the United States. A small staff and a group of dedicated Advocates support our work.

RSC’s mission-driven work now includes four signature programs. The overarching goal of these efforts is to support the development of thriving and sustainable rural communities:

• School-Centered Philanthropy — promoting strategies that address rural capital flight and enhance resources for student learning;
• Place Network Schools— supporting Teton Science Schools’ Place Network, a place-centered learning community of small and rural schools;
• Grants in Place — making grants to rural teachers in support of innovative place-based learning projects;
• Rural Teacher Corps Initiative — strengthening the recruitment, preparation, placement, and retention of rural teacher-leaders.

These ongoing efforts have been bolstered by two exciting new ventures. First, RSC’s “I am a Rural Teacher” initiative has received a major grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will result in the launch of a collaborative, national advocacy campaign! Secondly, Monmouth College and the Galesburg Community Foundationhave partnered to create a national support office for RSC and its programs.

I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this grassroots effort.

Thanks to you, we have made great strides.

Sincerely,

JOSHUA D. GIBB, CHAIR