The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education continues to lead the way in the field of rural education. The university hosted the third annual Rural Education Conference and Job Fair this week. Each year, the conference provides vital conversations and networking opportunities for students, educators and community leaders passionate about the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities. It also highlights how robust partnerships help strengthen rural districts and addresses the gap in preparing future teachers for careers in rural education.
"We are one of 13 Universities of Wisconsin teacher preparation programs—but what sets us apart?” asked Dr. Lindsay Hollingsworth, professor and associate director of UW-Platteville’s School of Education. “We're located in a rural area of Southwest Wisconsin, surrounded by school districts that also identify as rural. We've leaned into the idea of teaching in rural spaces. This conference is an important time each year when we truly celebrate rural education."
Hollingsworth recently contributed to a new book, “Sharing Leadership Stories in Rural Education.” Hollingsworth co-authored Chapter 10, “Reciprocal Relationships within Rural Communities,” alongside her colleague Dr. Jen Collins. The chapter explores how rural educators and community members can foster meaningful partnerships to create sustainable, supportive educational environments for students. Hollingsworth’s inclusion in this impactful work highlights her ongoing commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of rural schools.
“In the book, UW-Platteville is the voice of teacher preparation,” says Hollingsworth. “We do some pretty unique work here. We are committed to giving our students meaningful experience in schools and with community partners throughout their entire time at Platteville, even before their formal student teaching.”
She also describes her chapter as a form of storytelling—sharing how the university has developed deep, reciprocal partnerships with rural school districts. It was through listening to these partners that a critical gap became clear: the need for a K–12 special education program. At the time, UW-Platteville didn’t offer one.
“Partnerships go both ways,” Hollingsworth said. “It’s not just about what we can offer schools, but also what we can learn from them. They told us what they needed, and we responded.”
In 2022, the university launched its K–12 Special Education minor. It was a direct result of the university’s commitment to listening, adapting and co-creating solutions with those they serve.
A key part of that commitment is bringing people together—something the Rural Education Conference and Job Fair does exceptionally well. The event featured voices from the frontlines of rural education, including UW-Platteville alumni and rural educators Justin and Livia Doyle, who delivered the keynote address. They shared insights on reshaping perceptions of rural America and education, illustrating how impactful partnerships can transform communities.
"Reach out, especially to your local community and businesses,” encouraged Livia Doyle. “There are often funds available through partnerships that support rural education. These collaborations can also become part of your students’ learning experiences. Opportunities are out there, sometimes in the form of grants, and other times through hands-on experiences, like bringing students directly into the field."
Her support of agriculture and what rural areas mean to Wisconsin was showcased when her fourth-grade class in Mineral Point successfully lobbied at the Capitol to make cheese part of the state’s series of official items. The bill was signed in 2017 by Governor Scott Walker in front of her students.
The conference was especially meaningful to Darlington High School agriculture and technology teacher Justin Doyle as he spoke to the crowd of future educators. Among them were two familiar faces, including a former student who is now pursuing a career as a technology education teacher and a pre-student teacher who will be joining his team next year as a student teacher. He appreciated the opportunity to play a part in preparing them for their journey into full-time teaching.
"I want them to be inspired to go out and teach, and to have an understanding of the inner workings of what we do and what we face every day in a rural school district, that's important,” said Doyle. “These are real-world things we deal with as rural teachers."
This year’s conference also gave participants a glimpse into the minds of students preparing for a career in education. The new student poster session was introduced, with 20 students submitting posters they created on campus at the Huff Family Innovation Center. These posters highlighted various aspects of education, offering an engaging look at the creative work being done by the next generation of educators.
“I chose the teaching strategy of Scaffolding for my poster,” said junior Leah Digmann, who is pursuing a degree in elementary education. “It involves providing temporary support to students as they learn new concepts or skills. I want to be a middle school math teacher so scaffolding breaks down the learning for students into manageable chunks. What I really like is that it can be adapted to meet each individual student’s needs.”
Digmann found great value in attending the conference.
“I think it’s helpful to be in front of people and explain what you’re learning. It’s a great way to make connections, whether it’s with people from surrounding school districts or the keynote speakers. It’s all about networking.”
Networking with rural partners is a key priority for faculty at UW-Platteville, who are dedicated to directly linking this initiative to students. One way they do this is through the Job Fair, which followed the keynote address. This event served as a vital connection point, bringing together job-seeking educators and rural school districts actively seeking to fill vacancies.
"The fair not only helps our partners connect with students and evaluate potential candidates for upcoming vacancies but also allows students to build professional relationships and gain valuable experience before student teaching and graduation,” said Jennifer McClean, recruitment and retention coordinator for the School of Education. “These interactions with school administrators also help prepare them for successful interviews as they transition to full-time positions.”
And it works. Students from UW-Platteville have secured jobs through networking at the conference.
“Attending this conference is an excellent opportunity for me as a representative of the River Valley School District,” explained River Valley School District Superintendent Loren Glasbrenner. “I can bring postings to the job fair, speak about my district, share knowledge at round-table discussions and learn current trends and research surrounding rural education.”
Glasbrenner hired a student after meeting her at the conference.
“I have had the good fortune of meeting and hiring candidates from the job fair portion of this conference,” said Glasbrenner. “The candidate interviewed well and was hired. She remains a valued staff member of the River Valley School District.”
UW-Platteville’s School of Education has been training educators for more than 150 years, dating back to the state’s first Normal School, established in 1866. Today, the school focuses on preparing educators to work in rural settings, with 80% of graduates choosing to teach in rural communities. Its place-based learning framework uses students’ own communities as a foundation for learning, ensuring that future teachers are equipped to connect with and support rural students.
“As a superintendent of schools in a rural district, any networking and marketing opportunities such as this are an incredible asset to my district,” said Glasbrenner.
As the conference grows in importance, the collaboration between faculty, community members and rural educators continues to advance the mission of creating more equitable and responsive education for rural areas. Sharing stories of living and teaching in rural communities and emphasizing their relevance for the future of education remains central to that work.
“Our students are our VIPs; they are at the heart of our work at UW-Platteville,” said Hollingsworth.