Introducing RSC's Ohio hub: strength through partnerships

Rural Schools Collaborative is proud to announce the establishment of its Ohio hub. This new effort becomes the seventh regional hub in our network. The Ohio Small and Rural Schools Collaborative will serve as the host organization for the new hub.

The Ohio Small & Rural Collaborative (OSRC) provides professional development programming, resources, research, and help for specific education needs in small, rural Ohio schools. They also shed a light on current practices and issues that impact public education in the Buckeye State. In addition to hosting our Ohio Hub, OSRC serves as the Ohio affiliate for the National Rural Education Association. "These relationships will provide excellent opportunities for collaboration and synergy," said RSC director Gary Funk. "We are so pleased to have the chance to work with folks in Ohio."

Kirk Koennecke will serve as the Ohio hub contact. Kirk is executive director of OSRC, and he brings over 23 years of experience in education, along with passionate dedication to rural education initiatives to the RSC hub network. Kirk is also the superintendent for Graham Local Schools. Koennecke noted, "We are truly excited about this partnership, and we seek to help connect Ohio to RSC and other networks to improve the experiences of rural educators!"

Key initiatives within the Ohio hub include rural teacher leader development and recruitment through early college high school pathways, secondary and post-secondary institution career pathways collaborations, connecting community through strategic planning, and the development of philanthropic support for rural, first-generation students.

In addition, partners at Clark State Community College, Urbana University, the Clark Foundation, Graham Local Schools, and Teaching Ready are working together on these initiatives. Please stay tuned for more information about the good work being done throughout Ohio's rural school network!

RSC hubs comprise and define a new flexible and cost-effective infrastructure to support place-based engagement, rural philanthropy, and teacher-leader development in rural communities. Learn more.

The Rural Schools Collaborative would like to thank Kirk Koennecke and his colleagues for their willingness to work with us on strengthening the relationships between rural schools and communities.