No Longer Forgotten: The Triumphs and Struggles of Rural Education in America (Book Talk and Panel)
Rural school systems make up more than half of operating school districts in the United States, yet are often left out of larger conversations on education. They face a host of challenges: some of the highest principal turnover rates in the nation, persistent poverty, low college-going rates, and extreme racial disparities in student outcomes.
In this webinar, we discussed a book co-edited by Andy Smarick and Michael McShane, No Longer Forgotten: The Triumphs and Struggles of Rural Education in America, and hear from people working on the frontlines of rural education about what the present and future holds for these schools.
Panelist bios:
Andy Smarick (@smarick) is the director of civil society, education, and work at R Street Strategies, a public policy research organization. Previously, Andy was a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and served as president of the Maryland State Board of Education.
Jillian Balow (@jillian4supt) is the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, elected to her second term in 2018. Jillian also serves as president-elect on the Council of Chief State School Officers Board of Directors. She is a fifth-generation Wyoming native and taught for over a decade.
Kirsten Baesler (@KirstenBaesler) is the state school superintendent of North Dakota. She had a 24-year career in the Bismarck public school system as a vice principal, library media specialist, classroom teacher, and instructional assistant. Kirsten is a native of North Dakota.
Sanford Johnson (@SanfordLJohnson) is deputy director of Mississippi First, an organization specializing in education policy research and advocacy. His work as a sex educator has been featured in “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and Buzzfeed. Sanford is a native of Mississippi.