𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
In this episode of The Rural Scoop, Melissa Sadorf sits down with Casey Thomas Jacubowski, a lifelong rural educator whose career spans the classroom, district leadership, state policy, higher education, and advocacy. Drawing from his experiences in rural New York and beyond, Casey unpacks how urban-normative policies often fail rural schools—and what leaders can do instead.
The conversation explores the realities of school consolidation, teacher recruitment and retention, and the unseen labor that sustains rural education systems. Casey shares practical, low-cost leadership moves that strengthen school culture, build trust, and support teachers as whole professionals. He also makes a compelling case for place-based learning, relevant civics instruction, and reframing rural education through an “advantage” lens rather than deficit thinking.
This episode is a thoughtful blend of research, storytelling, and actionable insight for rural leaders who want to protect what makes their communities strong while preparing students for the future.
𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬:
00:00 Introduction to The Rural Scoop
00:46 Meet Casey Jacobowsky: From Classroom to Policy Table
02:56 Casey's Journey in Rural Education
06:26 Challenges and Realities of Rural Schools
09:41 Urban Norms vs. Rural Realities
13:35 Consolidation in Rural Schools
20:23 Teacher Retention Strategies
28:05 Balancing Managerial and Instructional Leadership
29:57 Advocating for Teachers and Students
32:34 Addressing Poverty and Inequality in Schools
35:33 Teaching Civics in Rural Schools
38:25 Empowering Student Leadership and Community Involvement
48:43 Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Education
54:26 The Rural Advantage
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Rural schools are not broken—they are deeply resilient, innovative, and rooted in community. In this episode, Casey Jacubowski reminds us that the true strength of rural education lies in relationships, relevance, and place-based opportunity. When leaders focus on what they can control, honor the work of educators, and advocate using real stories, rural schools don’t just survive—they thrive.
If this conversation sparked an idea or challenged your thinking, consider sharing it with a colleague or exploring one of Casey’s books. Your stories and experiences continue to strengthen the shared work of rural leadership.
Remember: In rural leadership, our strength is in our shared story. When we lead together, we thrive together.