NAU Launches a Statewide Rural Schools Resource Center By Dr. Howard Carlson, Educational Consultant and former Superintendent, Wickenburg Unified School District NAU Rural Schools Resource Center (NAURRC) Launches Exciting news! The NAU Department of Educational Leadership has launched a Rural Schools Resource Center (NAURRC) designed to specifically address the practical, daily needs of rural school administrators in the state of Arizona. The Center has initiated a website, complete with several helpful 3–5-minute videos, on topics ranging from how to recruit & retain certified staff to dealing with your school board. The site also includes practical videos on how to read and use school finance reports, deal with your school audit, and address legal issues such as developing an IGA or MOU. Our plan is to have most of the videos posted come from practicing administrators, who can share their experiences and expertise. To find these useful videos all you need to do is to go to the website at www.naurrc.org, click on the resources tab on the top right-hand side of the page, and a drop-down menu will appear with various video topic sections. Each section has multiple videos, which you can use to increase your knowledge, or share with others. You will also find on the website’s home page a new article each month highlighting a topic of interest to rural school administrators. The professional development, or PD section of the site, provides links to PD offerings by many of Arizona’s key leadership organizations. NAU Rural Schools Resource Center (NAURRC) Advisory Board, Mission & Vision In early January 2022, the NAU Rural Schools Resource Center Advisory Board (Jaime FestaDaigle, Robbie Koerperich, Dr. Melissa Sadorf, A.J. Taylor and Kristin Turner) undertook the process of “creating the Center’s future” by developing its mission, vision, and goals. The Center aims to be the premier institution serving rural schools in Arizona. It is an initiative of the NAU Department of Educational Leadership, its Chair, Dr. Michael Schwanenberger and Dr. Howard Carlson, former Superintendent, Wickenburg Unified School District, and current educational consultant. Support for the Center comes through the NAU Ernest McFarland Citizen’s Chair in Education, Dr. Nic Clement, NAU Del & Jewell Lewis Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership, Dr. Rose Ylimaki, and NAU College of Education Dean, Ramona Mellott. Dr. Frank Davidson provides guidance for the Center’s operation and assists with conducting and analyzing Center research. The Center enjoys a partnership with the Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) and functions in close cooperation with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Educator Recruitment & Retention Team. Development of the Center was born out of conversations between Dr. Carlson and Dr. Sadorf and an analysis which indicated that several western states including, but not limited to, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Washington all have some form of a rural school center. The fact that 68% of school districts in Arizona are considered rural and there was no entity in place serve their unique needs, the NAU Department of Educational Leadership stepped in to fill this void. We believe that creation of an entity designed to serve the specific needs of leaders working in the rural setting promises to increase student academic achievement through building talent capacity, and providing resources, research, and support. NAU Rural Schools Resource Center (NAURRC) Mission & Vision NAU Rural Schools Resource Center Mission: Our mission is to provide resources, relationships, and community to strengthen rural education in Arizona. (continued on page 22) Page 21 “Stronger Together!”
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