Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
@airssedu.org
The VOICE of Illinois rural and small schools since 1987.
The AIRSS team is ready for a great day at the IASA Annual Conference! Come see us at booth 85 in the hallway by registration. 👋
October 1, 2026 at 3:04 PM
The AIRSS team is ready for a great day at the IASA Annual Conference! Come see us at booth 85 in the hallway by registration. 👋
We are all set up for the IASA Annual Conference! Come see us at booth 85.
September 30, 2026 at 11:55 PM
We are all set up for the IASA Annual Conference! Come see us at booth 85.
What an absolutely wonderful afternoon celebrating Jennifer Burdette, our 2026-27 IL Rural Teacher of the Year! 💙
September 29, 2026 at 8:50 PM
What an absolutely wonderful afternoon celebrating Jennifer Burdette, our 2026-27 IL Rural Teacher of the Year! 💙
The new volume of the Prairie Career Advocate has officially started! Check out the first issue featuring Herscher High School and their dedication to building community through cooking: airssedu.org/post/fall-20...
September 28, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The new volume of the Prairie Career Advocate has officially started! Check out the first issue featuring Herscher High School and their dedication to building community through cooking: airssedu.org/post/fall-20...
RSC's Grants in Place application is open now! Get funding for innovative, community-based projects in your classroom. Individual grants are available to rural public school teachers. 🎉
🗓️ Apply by: October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT
Learn more and apply today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗓️ Apply by: October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT
Learn more and apply today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
September 23, 2026 at 2:15 PM
RSC's Grants in Place application is open now! Get funding for innovative, community-based projects in your classroom. Individual grants are available to rural public school teachers. 🎉
🗓️ Apply by: October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT
Learn more and apply today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗓️ Apply by: October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT
Learn more and apply today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
The Regional Rural Future Teachers’ Club held their first event of this school year on International Dot Day! 🟠 Learn more: airssedu.org/post/rrtc-do...
September 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The Regional Rural Future Teachers’ Club held their first event of this school year on International Dot Day! 🟠 Learn more: airssedu.org/post/rrtc-do...
The Rural IL CTE Project team is excited to be at Bureau Valley HS career fair to rep AIRSS and public service careers for the next generation!
September 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The Rural IL CTE Project team is excited to be at Bureau Valley HS career fair to rep AIRSS and public service careers for the next generation!
Our next episode of Rural School Voices Podcast is live now! We are joined by AIRSS President Chris Janssen to discuss the realities of rural education. Listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
September 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Our next episode of Rural School Voices Podcast is live now! We are joined by AIRSS President Chris Janssen to discuss the realities of rural education. Listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
CONGRATULATIONS again to our 2026-27 Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4! 🎉 Jen also received the NATIONAL award from NREA! 👏 Learn more: nrea.net/jennifer-bur...
September 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM
CONGRATULATIONS again to our 2026-27 Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4! 🎉 Jen also received the NATIONAL award from NREA! 👏 Learn more: nrea.net/jennifer-bur...
Did you hear? The Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP) is diving into rural stories across the state. 🎙️ 🌽 Episode 1 is officially live, featuring our Executive Director David Ardrey. Visit our RSVP landing page to watch or listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
September 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Did you hear? The Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP) is diving into rural stories across the state. 🎙️ 🌽 Episode 1 is officially live, featuring our Executive Director David Ardrey. Visit our RSVP landing page to watch or listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
Apply now for NREA's National Rural Principal Fellowship, a year-long program of ongoing, job-embedded professional learning designed for rural principals. ✨
Learn more and apply by September 25: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
Learn more and apply by September 25: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
September 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Apply now for NREA's National Rural Principal Fellowship, a year-long program of ongoing, job-embedded professional learning designed for rural principals. ✨
Learn more and apply by September 25: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
Learn more and apply by September 25: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
Manufacturing Day is October 2nd! Celebrate by helping students discover the innovation, technology, and exciting careers behind modern manufacturing with Learning Blade.
Get started with your free Learning Blade account here: web3.learningblade.com/stateenquiry...
Get started with your free Learning Blade account here: web3.learningblade.com/stateenquiry...
September 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Manufacturing Day is October 2nd! Celebrate by helping students discover the innovation, technology, and exciting careers behind modern manufacturing with Learning Blade.
Get started with your free Learning Blade account here: web3.learningblade.com/stateenquiry...
Get started with your free Learning Blade account here: web3.learningblade.com/stateenquiry...
Thank you to WFIW for citing AIRSS In this article: www.wfiwradio.com/2026/08/29/t...
TEACHER SHORTAGE REMAINS CONCERN FOR ILLINOIS RURAL SCHOOLS
Illinois schools continue to struggle with teacher shortages, with rural districts facing some of the g...
www.wfiwradio.com
August 31, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Thank you to WFIW for citing AIRSS In this article: www.wfiwradio.com/2026/08/29/t...
"The reality is the shortage is still a critical issue for rural schools." Our CTE Project Program Director John Glasgow was recently quoted by FarmWeek in this article about the rural teacher shortage. Read more: www.farmweeknow.com/education/ru...
Rural schools continue to face teacher shortages
While Illinois has made progress in improving its shortage of teachers, vacancies remain high in rural schools.
www.farmweeknow.com
August 28, 2026 at 2:01 PM
"The reality is the shortage is still a critical issue for rural schools." Our CTE Project Program Director John Glasgow was recently quoted by FarmWeek in this article about the rural teacher shortage. Read more: www.farmweeknow.com/education/ru...
We are beyond excited to share that our Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4, has been named the NATIONAL Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association! 🎉 Learn more: airssedu.org/post/jennife...
August 26, 2026 at 7:19 PM
We are beyond excited to share that our Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4, has been named the NATIONAL Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association! 🎉 Learn more: airssedu.org/post/jennife...
Reposted by Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
NREA is excited to announce that Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4 in London Mills, Illinois, is the 2026 National Rural Teacher of the Year! 🎉 Join us in celebrating this outstanding educator! Learn more in the official press release: nrea.net/jennifer-bur...
August 26, 2026 at 4:01 PM
NREA is excited to announce that Jennifer Burdette from Spoon River Valley CUSD #4 in London Mills, Illinois, is the 2026 National Rural Teacher of the Year! 🎉 Join us in celebrating this outstanding educator! Learn more in the official press release: nrea.net/jennifer-bur...
Apply now for NREA's National Rural Principal Fellowship, a year-long program of ongoing, job-embedded professional learning designed for rural principals. ✨
Learn more and apply now: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
Learn more and apply now: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
August 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Apply now for NREA's National Rural Principal Fellowship, a year-long program of ongoing, job-embedded professional learning designed for rural principals. ✨
Learn more and apply now: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
Learn more and apply now: nrea.net/nrpf-2026/
The AIRSS team is so excited to launch Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP), a new project diving into the stories of rural schools across the state. 🎙️ 🌽 Episode 1 is officially live, featuring our Executive Director David Ardrey. Watch or listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
August 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM
The AIRSS team is so excited to launch Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP), a new project diving into the stories of rural schools across the state. 🎙️ 🌽 Episode 1 is officially live, featuring our Executive Director David Ardrey. Watch or listen now: airssedu.org/rsvp/
The Rural Debate Initiative offers 100% free, flexible, virtual coaching, summer workshops, and competitive opportunities designed to fit around your classroom schedules and clubs.
Visit www.ruraldebateinitiative.org/ to bring debate to your community!
Visit www.ruraldebateinitiative.org/ to bring debate to your community!
August 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The Rural Debate Initiative offers 100% free, flexible, virtual coaching, summer workshops, and competitive opportunities designed to fit around your classroom schedules and clubs.
Visit www.ruraldebateinitiative.org/ to bring debate to your community!
Visit www.ruraldebateinitiative.org/ to bring debate to your community!
The Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP) launches TOMORROW! 🎉 Make sure to tune in wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧
August 17, 2026 at 6:01 PM
The Rural School Voices Podcast (RSVP) launches TOMORROW! 🎉 Make sure to tune in wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧
The AIRSS team is having a blast recording the first few episodes of our new Rural School Voices Podcast! 😂 "RSVP" to rural advocacy this fall. 📨
August 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The AIRSS team is having a blast recording the first few episodes of our new Rural School Voices Podcast! 😂 "RSVP" to rural advocacy this fall. 📨
Save the date for our second annual conference! We will have more information and registration soon.
August 10, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Save the date for our second annual conference! We will have more information and registration soon.
Dear Teachers, apply now for this exciting grant opportunity from the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation. All applications are due by October 2. Learn more: mshefoundation.org/grants/
August 7, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Dear Teachers, apply now for this exciting grant opportunity from the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation. All applications are due by October 2. Learn more: mshefoundation.org/grants/
Registration is open for the 2026 #RuralEdForum! ⭐ Join the National Rural Education Association in San Antonio, TX for the nation's leading rural ed conference.
Register now: cvent.me/nLE24v
Register now: cvent.me/nLE24v
August 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Registration is open for the 2026 #RuralEdForum! ⭐ Join the National Rural Education Association in San Antonio, TX for the nation's leading rural ed conference.
Register now: cvent.me/nLE24v
Register now: cvent.me/nLE24v
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is looking for rural leaders (e.g., superintendents, CTE directors, special education directors, principals, others) to join a research study piloting a free, virtual training in Fall 2026! Learn more: redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=T...
August 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is looking for rural leaders (e.g., superintendents, CTE directors, special education directors, principals, others) to join a research study piloting a free, virtual training in Fall 2026! Learn more: redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=T...