AIRSS News

Bunker Hill 8 – Lewis & Clark Selected for Pilot Program

| | AIRSS News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: TODD DUGAN 618-585-3116 BUNKER HILL, IL — Macoupin County PK-12 school district Bunker Hill CUSD 8 and their higher education partner Lewis & Clark Community College were recently recruited to participate in the non-profit Collegiate Edu-Nation’s first National P-20 Convening in Abilene, Texas. Completely funded by a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, […]

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NREA Names David M. Ardrey as Interim Executive Director Effective October 1

| | AIRSS News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 1, 2024execdir@nrea.net Chattanooga, TN – The Executive Committee of the National Rural Education Association (NREA) has announced the appointment of David M. Ardrey as the Interim Executive Director of the NREA. Mr. Ardrey is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS) and will continue in his role alongside

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Training for Rural Vitality: Reflecting on the First Year of the Rural IL CTE Project

| | AIRSS News, Career and Technical Education

I am a huge proponent for the power of our small towns and country places. As a product of a small town in West Central Illinois myself, I feel the struggles we have faced in a social and economic system that does not regard rural places as much more than either a backward anachronism that

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Rural Education Advisory Council Discusses Defining Rural in Illinois

| | AIRSS News, Rural Education Advisory Council

The new Illinois Rural Education Advisory Council, created through the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1787 last year, met for the second time to begin work on some of the most pressing issues facing rural and small schools across the state. The Council represents a critical opportunity for rural communities and schools to have representation

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Celebrating Rural & Small Schoolteachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!

| | AIRSS News

Teachers are the cornerstone of our rural schools and communities. The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools was thrilled to see the great responses from our network to nominate rural educators of all types whom they respect and admire. Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially to our rural educators across Illinois working

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Rural CTE Council Convenes at Western Illinois University

| | AIRSS News, Career and Technical Education

The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools was thrilled to host members of the Rural Illinois Career & Technical Education Project Advisory Council as well as special guests from Western Illinois University and the Illinois State Board of Education for an in-person meeting to discuss new data on the status of CTE programs at

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IL SB1787 Banner

Rural Education Advisory Council Members and First Meeting Date Announced

| | AIRSS News, Rural Education Advisory Council

The Newest Voices of Rural and Small Schools The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS) worked for several years to create, through legislation, the Rural Education Advisory Council (REAC) in Illinois. In 2023, this vision came one step closer to reality with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1787 (Public Act 103-0457). AIRSS

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