Breadcrumb
Rural Schools Initiative
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.
SAVE THE DATE: UCM's Fall 2025 Rural School Summit will be on Nov. 12.
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.
