The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools team, Executive Director David Ardrey, Director Hailey Winkleman, and Associate Director John Glasgow, hit the road this fall representing rural schools and rural Illinois at a number of high profile education conferences and gatherings. At each event, the three were able to communicate through data and narrative the specific challenges and strengths of small and rural Illinois school districts, and then to demonstrate how AIRSS’ growing advocacy impact through the Rural Education Advisory Council and partnerships with the Illinois State Board of Education and other state agencies were steadily moving the needle on key rural issues.
The road toward year-end advocacy began with the Illinois Association of School Administrators conference in Springfield on Thursday, September 26th. Here, Hailey and John presented the association’s newly published career and technical education research report: Growing Rural IL Success through CTE Programs. This report summarizes six months of intensive research and findings gathered through the Rural IL CTE Project, a partnership between AIRSS and ISBE to address rural CTE needs and equity gaps. Hailey and John were able to effectively communicate the imperative to support CTE programming through this first-of-its-kind report in Illinois, and to share how the Project was using this data to drive future rural CTE technical assistance to rural districts. AIRSS finished their time at IASA through an organizational update session to membership hosted by AIRSS Board President Emeritus Dr. Patrick Twomey.
The entire AIRSS staff next ventured to Savannah, Georgia during the Halloween holiday to represent Illinois at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education, the National Rural Education Association’s annual gathering of rural education researchers, practitioners, and advocates. As one of the state affiliates of the NREA, AIRSS was proud to once again ensure that rural Illinois perspectives and questions were present in the general sessions and breakout conversations. This year, the national convening held special significance as AIRSS Executive Director David Ardrey was named Interim Executive Director for NREA. This is a significant honor for Ardrey, whose intention now as before has remained ensuring that rural education voices, in Illinois and beyond, are heard and respected. Previously, Ardrey had served as President of the NREA Board. In both instances, he has been able to ensure that the unique work of Illinois rural schools and advocacy is present in national policy and strategy conversations.
David, John, and the AIRSS Board last traveled to Chicago on Friday, November 22nd to host the association’s annual session on rural leadership, voice, and advocacy at the Illinois School Board Association’s Joint Annual Conference (Triple I). In addition to connecting with the many rural school boards and administrators that attend the event, AIRSS Board President Dr. Jennifer Garrison, AIRSS Board President Elect Chris Janssen, AIRSS Board President Emeritus Mark TwomeyTowmey led a session sharing recent updates from the Rural Education Advisory Council in its first year of action. They and David underscored the significance of finally having a guaranteed voice for rural schools in the state education agency, and that the Council’s first priorities were addressing two of the most foundational issues for rural and small Illinois districts: defining rural and the chronic teacher shortage. This informational portion was followed by a lively audience reflection session where David invited the 60+ attendees to share what “rural” looked like in their district, and what the Rural Education Advisory Council should know about their district. The session concluded with a heartfelt announcement by David that after twelve years of tireless advocacy for rural and small Illinois school districts, that he would be retiring in the next year and that he and Board were confident in both their succession plan and the future stability and strength of the organization.
Advocacy is an exercise in endurance and network management. It requires both constant and authentic engagement with each and every rural and small school district in Illinois, and that those empathetic listeners be present at major events to ensure that what they heard and learned is truthfully represented. The AIRSS staff and board take genuine pride in being able to share your experiences, stories, and realities to audiences all around Illinois, and the nation. Each opportunity to promote the reality of living and educating in rural Illinois is one step closer toward achieving real equity in education funding and policy. None of this would be possible without your collaboration, and so it is with deep gratitude and respect to each of you that the AIRSS Board, John, Hailey, and David have journeyed near and far to end this year on a high note for rural Illinois advocacy.