Beyond the Bell (Leading with Purpose) welcomes Dr. Will Darter, superintendent of the Everton R-3 School District in Missouri and author of The Empowered Rural Educator: Big Things Come From Small Schools. Dr. Darter shares his journey from “assistant to the custodian” as a kid to rural superintendency, then unpacks what makes rural leadership both challenging and powerful—tight resources, deep community ownership, and relationships that make the work personal. The conversation highlights building culture through trust and integrity, creating systems that reduce burnout (clarity of roles, fewer-but-better initiatives), and using AI as a practical time-saver for small-district leaders. The episode closes with a call to lead for significance over status, loving people well and stewarding schools with purpose.