Breadcrumb
Rural Schools Initiative
Our Mission
The UCM Rural Schools Initiative empowers students and educators in rural Missouri communities by providing equitable access to high-quality education, resources and support.
Supporting Our Rural School Partners
The UCM College of Education is committed to supporting the education of all students in the rural schools of Missouri. One of our priorities is supporting and aiding our rural partners in their efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers. We are committeed to helping them improve the educational environment and supporting sound instructional practices. UCM’s Rural Schools Initiative brings rural school districts together through two annual Rural School Summits and ongoing professional development opportunities. The summits, hosted each spring and fall, offer a day-long networking event at UCM with experts in different fields, plus the chance to meet with student-teachers seeking jobs. UCM also helps integrate computer science into rural classrooms and provides flexible pathways for paraprofessionals to earn teaching credentials, helping schools grow their own educators and address teacher shortages.
Connecting Communities, Cultivating Educators
UCM's Rural Schools Initiative leadership team hosted a dynamic networking event on Feb. 24, 2026 for rural school administrators, centered on strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities for future educators.
It provided space to share college updates, highlight program developments and discuss student field placement practices that support both districts and teacher candidates. We also introduced new scholarship opportunities aimed at reducing barriers for aspiring educators and reinforcing our shared commitment to serving rural communities.
Administrators collaborated on strategies to continue advocating for rural districts and ensuring their unique strengths and needs remain visible in broader educational conversations.
A featured component was our “District Dash,” an engaging, high-energy session modeled after a speed-networking format. Rural district administrators rotated through brief, structured conversations with teacher candidates. This allowed districts to share the benefits of teaching in rural communities — such as close-knit school cultures, leadership opportunities, meaningful community connections and the ability to make a broad impact across grade levels and programs.
It fostered authentic dialogue, helping teacher candidates better understand the advantages of working in rural settings. Administrators were also able to identify prospective educators who align with their district missions and community values.
These events strengthened relationships, elevated awareness of rural opportunities and reinforced our commitment to supporting and sustaining high-quality education in rural schools.
Rural Schools Collaborative
UCM is a member of the Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC), which supports rural schools with a new network of resources and opportunities. It's led by a leadership team comprised of UCM Education faculty members, rural K-12 administrators and Central Regional Professional Development Center representatives. UCM is also part of the RSC Regional Hub Network, which includes the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Missouri State University. This allows UCM to gain insights from other colleges and universities across the country.Paraprofessional Preparation
The UCM College of Education offers a pathway program that has been specifically designed to help current paraprofessionals continue to work the classrooms while attending courses toward their degrees and educator certification. More information about that program can be found on the Paraprofessionals Degree Pathways page.
Dual Credit Opportunities
Students can work toward their undergraduate degree while still in high school by taking dual credit courses that can be applied toward both high school and college course credit. More information can be found on the Dual Credit page.
