In Season 11, Episode 6 of Learning Can’t Wait, Hayley Spira-Bauer speaks with Shane Purdy, an Assistant Superintendent in rural Georgia, about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to sustain strong learning opportunities in small communities facing major staffing headwinds. Shane shares how growing up as a minister’s kid who moved frequently shaped his people-first leadership, and how his career evolved from AP English teacher and coach into school and district leadership across academics, HR, operations, and accountability. The episode highlights practical strategies for building relationships and student belonging—like daily advisement with structured scripts, individual learning plans, and weekly “club day” enrichment experiences—plus a powerful international partnership between rural Georgia and Bavaria, Germany centered on agriculture. Shane also speaks candidly about rural teacher shortages, looming retirement waves, and why districts must find creative solutions (including virtual instruction) rather than removing courses. He closes with a leadership reminder to “never forget where you came from,” keeping student experience and those “lightbulb moments” at the center of every decision.