Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
@airssedu.org
The VOICE of Illinois rural and small schools since 1987.
AIRSS joins educators across the state and nation in looking forward to some well earned rest and reflection over the holidays after a banner season of travel and advocacy. Thank you for your support of AIRSS in 2025 - let's have a great new year!
December 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
AIRSS joins educators across the state and nation in looking forward to some well earned rest and reflection over the holidays after a banner season of travel and advocacy. Thank you for your support of AIRSS in 2025 - let's have a great new year!
Wishing you a safe and warm holiday season!
December 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Wishing you a safe and warm holiday season!
AIRSS is now seeking partners for our first-ever conference this spring! Learn more in this sponsorship sheet: airssedu.org/wp-content/u...
December 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
AIRSS is now seeking partners for our first-ever conference this spring! Learn more in this sponsorship sheet: airssedu.org/wp-content/u...
The Smithsonian Science Education Leadership Summit is a free, three-day event focused on developing strategies to recruit and retain K-12 STEM teachers. The 2026 Summit will be held from March 27-29 in Philadelphia, PA. Applications are open until January 5: ssec.si.edu/event/smiths...
December 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Smithsonian Science Education Leadership Summit is a free, three-day event focused on developing strategies to recruit and retain K-12 STEM teachers. The 2026 Summit will be held from March 27-29 in Philadelphia, PA. Applications are open until January 5: ssec.si.edu/event/smiths...
Arts, Design, Media, and Communications are huge industries, and yet rural schools rarely offer pathways or skills in these fields. Join the Rural IL CTE Project for a webinar discussing the importance of creative skills for ALL career-bound students. Register Now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
December 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Arts, Design, Media, and Communications are huge industries, and yet rural schools rarely offer pathways or skills in these fields. Join the Rural IL CTE Project for a webinar discussing the importance of creative skills for ALL career-bound students. Register Now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reliable transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to education, particularly in rural areas. Transportation challenges also impact access to CTE programs and work-based learning opportunities. Learn more: airssedu.org/post/driving...
Driving Equity: Understanding and Addressing Transportation Barriers in Rural Illinois - The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
For rural districts in Illinois, transportation remains one of the most expensive and logistically complex responsibilities.
airssedu.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reliable transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to education, particularly in rural areas. Transportation challenges also impact access to CTE programs and work-based learning opportunities. Learn more: airssedu.org/post/driving...
Our partners at Kings Financial Consulting have released and End of Year Bonds Checklist to help you make sure you're ready for 2026. ✅ View the full document here: drive.google.com/file/d/1SRTb...
December 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Our partners at Kings Financial Consulting have released and End of Year Bonds Checklist to help you make sure you're ready for 2026. ✅ View the full document here: drive.google.com/file/d/1SRTb...
Our first-ever conference will take place this spring! Join us to learn more about how to utilize emerging technologies, effective communications, and the AIRSS network to create meaningful career exploration opportunities for rural students. Registration will open in January.
December 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Our first-ever conference will take place this spring! Join us to learn more about how to utilize emerging technologies, effective communications, and the AIRSS network to create meaningful career exploration opportunities for rural students. Registration will open in January.
AIRSS is thrilled to host Toon Boom's Bernard Boiteux and Evil Eye Creative Studio's Hailey Winkleman to discuss the importance and broad applicability of arts, design. and communication skills for all career-bound students. Register Now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
December 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
AIRSS is thrilled to host Toon Boom's Bernard Boiteux and Evil Eye Creative Studio's Hailey Winkleman to discuss the importance and broad applicability of arts, design. and communication skills for all career-bound students. Register Now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
That’s a wrap on the 2025 ACTE VISION Conference! Thank you to everyone who came out to support rural sessions about CTE.
December 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
That’s a wrap on the 2025 ACTE VISION Conference! Thank you to everyone who came out to support rural sessions about CTE.
Kicking off today at the ACTE VISION Conference with Rural CTE Roundtables!
December 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Kicking off today at the ACTE VISION Conference with Rural CTE Roundtables!
Thank you Amanda Brinkman at Deluxe for talking with us this morning about cherishing our purpose and serving the community around us--it's a lifeline lesson for rural schools. Great to see power of investing in small towns being championed at such a big level! 👏
December 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Thank you Amanda Brinkman at Deluxe for talking with us this morning about cherishing our purpose and serving the community around us--it's a lifeline lesson for rural schools. Great to see power of investing in small towns being championed at such a big level! 👏
Super excited to rep AIRSS, Illinois, and all rural and small schools at the 2025 ACTE Vision Conference! Come find us and say hello!
December 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Super excited to rep AIRSS, Illinois, and all rural and small schools at the 2025 ACTE Vision Conference! Come find us and say hello!
The National Space Sustainability Competition invites grades 6-8 to rethink how humans can live and work sustainably beyond Earth.
The submission deadline for this year's competition is January 31, 2026.
Learn more and submit here: swft.space/national-spa...
The submission deadline for this year's competition is January 31, 2026.
Learn more and submit here: swft.space/national-spa...
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The National Space Sustainability Competition invites grades 6-8 to rethink how humans can live and work sustainably beyond Earth.
The submission deadline for this year's competition is January 31, 2026.
Learn more and submit here: swft.space/national-spa...
The submission deadline for this year's competition is January 31, 2026.
Learn more and submit here: swft.space/national-spa...
Don't forget to check out rural sessions at the ACTE VISION Conference this week! We will be at a newly-added networking event on Thursday morning in addition to our planned session in the afternoon. 🌐
December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Don't forget to check out rural sessions at the ACTE VISION Conference this week! We will be at a newly-added networking event on Thursday morning in addition to our planned session in the afternoon. 🌐
ICYMI: the next issue of the Prairie Career Advocate is live! Bureau Valley High School has become a standout example of innovation and growth in CTE, demonstrating that even smaller schools can offer robust, forward-thinking programs. Read more:
Winter 2025 Issue of The Prairie Career Advocate - The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
Bureau Valley CUSD #340: Investing in Rural Career Pathways
airssedu.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
ICYMI: the next issue of the Prairie Career Advocate is live! Bureau Valley High School has become a standout example of innovation and growth in CTE, demonstrating that even smaller schools can offer robust, forward-thinking programs. Read more:
This series explores the critical condition of rural school infrastructure, and new infrastructure solutions made possible by a partnership between AIRSS and OPTERRA. This partnership is designed to bring unprecedented support to rural and small schools. Learn more: airssedu.org/post/opterra...
A White Paper Series on the Rural Schools Infrastructure Crisis - The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
Co-authored by David Ardrey, Executive Director, Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools and Roger Eddy, Former Executive Director, Illinois Association of School Boards This series explores the critical condition of rural school infrastructure, and new infrastructure solutions made possible by a partnership between AIRSS and OPTERRA. This partnership is designed to bring unprecedented support
airssedu.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This series explores the critical condition of rural school infrastructure, and new infrastructure solutions made possible by a partnership between AIRSS and OPTERRA. This partnership is designed to bring unprecedented support to rural and small schools. Learn more: airssedu.org/post/opterra...
“CTE has become a point of unity in our community." Dr. Jennifer Garrison, Vandalia School District Superintendent.
Hear more educator perspectives on the value & importance of CTE in The Role and Economic Effects of CTE in Rural Illinois Communities: airssedu.org/post/the-rol...
Hear more educator perspectives on the value & importance of CTE in The Role and Economic Effects of CTE in Rural Illinois Communities: airssedu.org/post/the-rol...
December 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
“CTE has become a point of unity in our community." Dr. Jennifer Garrison, Vandalia School District Superintendent.
Hear more educator perspectives on the value & importance of CTE in The Role and Economic Effects of CTE in Rural Illinois Communities: airssedu.org/post/the-rol...
Hear more educator perspectives on the value & importance of CTE in The Role and Economic Effects of CTE in Rural Illinois Communities: airssedu.org/post/the-rol...
Reposted by Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
Our Illinois State Affiliate @airssedu.org has just launched the next volume of their online publication, The Prairie Career Advocate. The Advocate features the best in CTE to highlight and inspire rural schools across the state. Read more on the AIRSS site: airssedu.org/post/fall-20...
Fall 2025 Issue of The Prairie Career Advocate - The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
After an exciting first year, the AIRSS team is proud to launch the second volume ofThe Prairie Career Advocate. This storytelling effort is part of the Rural IL CTE Project that AIRSS and the Illinois State Board of Education began in 2023. The first issue of this new volume features Stillman Valley High School (Meridian
airssedu.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Our Illinois State Affiliate @airssedu.org has just launched the next volume of their online publication, The Prairie Career Advocate. The Advocate features the best in CTE to highlight and inspire rural schools across the state. Read more on the AIRSS site: airssedu.org/post/fall-20...
AIRSS believes that proper leadership and facilitation of federal programming is essential to giving ALL rural students – disabled or otherwise – a fair chance. Learn more in this op-ed from Communications Director Hailey Winkleman: airssedu.org/post/do-rura...
Do Rural Students with Disabilities Still Have a Fair Chance? - The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
AIRSS Joins Hundreds of Organizations in Condemning Sweeping Cuts to the U.S. Department of Education
airssedu.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
AIRSS believes that proper leadership and facilitation of federal programming is essential to giving ALL rural students – disabled or otherwise – a fair chance. Learn more in this op-ed from Communications Director Hailey Winkleman: airssedu.org/post/do-rura...
Have you heard? AIRSS is hosting our first conference this spring! Save the date: April 17, 2026!
December 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Have you heard? AIRSS is hosting our first conference this spring! Save the date: April 17, 2026!
To round out our Cornucopia of CTE Creativity, we're excited to share that the next issue of the Prairie Career Advocate is live! The PCA team travelled to north-central Illinois to explore the “Home of the Storm” at Bureau Valley High School. Bureau Valley has become a standout example of innovatio
November 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To round out our Cornucopia of CTE Creativity, we're excited to share that the next issue of the Prairie Career Advocate is live! The PCA team travelled to north-central Illinois to explore the “Home of the Storm” at Bureau Valley High School. Bureau Valley has become a standout example of innovatio
The Prairie Career Advocate is a quarterly publication featuring CTE success in rural and small schools in IL. Five issues are available now, with the sixth coming soon!
Read more about the PCA and other stories in A Cornucopia of CTE Creativity: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
Read more about the PCA and other stories in A Cornucopia of CTE Creativity: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
November 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Prairie Career Advocate is a quarterly publication featuring CTE success in rural and small schools in IL. Five issues are available now, with the sixth coming soon!
Read more about the PCA and other stories in A Cornucopia of CTE Creativity: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
Read more about the PCA and other stories in A Cornucopia of CTE Creativity: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
"BIG NEWS for Staunton CUSD 6! The district has received ISBE approval for TWO new career pathways, expanding opportunities for students!" - Karen Guadarrama, OneGoal
Read more: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
Read more: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"BIG NEWS for Staunton CUSD 6! The district has received ISBE approval for TWO new career pathways, expanding opportunities for students!" - Karen Guadarrama, OneGoal
Read more: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
Read more: airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
"By the end of their senior year, [students] have completed approximately 70% of their apprenticeship training, and they can...finish their coursework and be working for union wages and benefits at the same time!" - Juletta Ellis, Litchfield CUSD 40
airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"By the end of their senior year, [students] have completed approximately 70% of their apprenticeship training, and they can...finish their coursework and be working for union wages and benefits at the same time!" - Juletta Ellis, Litchfield CUSD 40
airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...
airssedu.org/post/cte-cor...