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FAQ: Rural Education Challenges and Local Action in Illinois
TL;DR
Superintendent Andrew Jordan demonstrates how securing over $270,000 in grants and repurposing spaces can give rural schools a strategic advantage despite limited resources.
Jordan's approach involves identifying underused spaces, applying for grants, and engaging stakeholders to implement practical solutions that address rural education challenges step by step.
Local actions like volunteering and donating supplies directly improve educational equity, ensuring every child in rural communities receives the support they need to succeed.
A simple 3-on-3 basketball tournament organized by Jordan raised over $50,000, showing how creative community events can fund critical school enrichment programs.
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The content focuses on how national education challenges—such as teacher shortages, academic recovery, and funding gaps—are hitting small towns in Illinois hardest, with Superintendent Andrew Jordan advocating for local action to address these issues.
Rural schools in Illinois face greater challenges because they operate with smaller budgets, fewer resources, and limited staff while dealing with issues like unreliable high-speed internet, higher rates of low-income students, and long-term teacher vacancies compared to suburban districts.
Andrew Jordan is a Superintendent and former Illinois Principal of the Year serving in rural Illinois who has turned around underused spaces, secured over $270,000 in grant funding, and led programs that raised student achievement through hands-on leadership.
Key statistics include: Illinois ranks 23rd in per-student spending with rural schools often below the state average; nearly 60% of students in Iroquois County are low-income; over 40% of rural schools lack full-time tutoring or enrichment support; and rural districts are twice as likely to experience long-term teacher vacancies.
The content provides a Local Action List with 10 practical steps including: volunteer for one hour at a local school, donate supplies to teacher wish lists, host community fundraisers, write letters to local organizations or state representatives about rural school needs, and repurpose unused spaces into tutoring areas.
Jordan emphasizes starting small with practical steps like updating underused spaces with simple improvements, securing grant funding, and getting staff and stakeholders on board, stating 'You don't have to fix the whole system—you just have to move one piece forward' each year.
This is specifically happening in rural Illinois, with examples from Iroquois County and communities like Stockton, though the content suggests similar challenges affect small towns across the state.
Jordan's message is clear: 'If you care about kids, don't wait. You don't need a degree, a title, or a perfect plan. Just show up.' He encourages starting with one volunteer hour, one grant application, or one repurposed classroom.
Examples include Jordan's library update that started with furniture design and paint before securing grants, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that raised over $50,000 for enrichment activities through community fundraising.
The press release is dated January 22, 2026, and it's relevant because it addresses ongoing education challenges that continue to impact rural communities, emphasizing that immediate local action can make a difference despite systemic issues.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
