National Rural Education Association Official Podcast

In this episode of the Rural Education Podcast, Drs. Bigham, Allen, and Silver discuss the current state of rural education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The co-hosts discuss the challenges with addressing the pandemic given the little time to prepare in addressing large and small school districts, as well as the budgetary and logistical issues of moving curriculum from the classroom to online and distance-based learning. They discuss the current closure trends of schools, offering snapshot

In this episode of the Rural Voice, Drs Pratt and Bigham interview Dr. Jon Turner, Assistant Professor of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education at Missouri State University on his research regarding the four-day school week. In this episode, Dr. Turner discusses his research related to the benefits and disadvantages of the four-day school week and the various forms of implementation around the United States. Dr. Turner discusses the potential saving of the four-day school in terms of salary,

In this episode of the Rural Voice, all three co-hosts discuss the importance of extra-curricular activities for not only teaching teamwork and social norms but also building community. The co-hosts share their own experiences with extra-curricular activities both as students as well as teachers and administrators. They discuss how these programs have changed and some of the challenges experienced by small schools in offering such programs. They talk about how these programs vary and the role they

In this episode of the Rural Voice, the co-hosts interview United States Congressman Mike Bost regarding his work on rural education and support of the Rural Education Investment Act. This act suggests investing in rural education as directed by local school districts throughout the United States. Representative Bost suggests that each local school board has its own individual challenges and therefore, funding should be directed by each school district. He discusses many of the prevailing trends in

The Rural Voice interviews the Honorable Brandon O. Gibson, who serves in the Office of the Governor of Tennessee. The co-hosts interview her regarding rural educational initiatives in Tennessee and how rural education varies between counties. She discusses some of the current initiatives within the state and the foci of the current administration. She discusses some of the current trends and how the landscape of rural education is changing. Brandon O. Gibson is a native of Dyersburg. She graduated

Dr. Allen Pratt has served as a high school science teacher and coach, a high school principal, assistant superintendent/curriculum director, executive director of the Tennessee Rural Education Association, executive director of the East Tennessee Center of Regional Excellence for the Tennessee Department of Education, and rural outreach liaison for Lincoln Memorial University. His primary interests are those issues that impact rural schools and the role of instructional leaders at the district and