The Rural Scoop

In this episode of "The Rural Scoop," host Melissa interviews Tobin Novasio, the superintendent of Hardin Public Schools in Montana. Tobin shares his extensive background in rural education, detailing his journey from teaching and coaching in various rural districts to his current role. The discussion covers the unique challenges and rewards of working in rural education, including teacher shortages, funding issues, and the importance of community relationships. Tobin also highlights his involvement with AASA and initiatives to support student mental health, emphasizing the critical need for mental health resources in rural areas. The episode provides valuable insights into the complexities and dedication required to lead in rural education settings.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode of "The Rural Scoop," we sit down with Dr. Brian Noland, President of East Tennessee State University (ETSU), to discuss his impactful work in revitalizing rural communities through higher education. Dr. Noland shares his journey from his early career to his current role, emphasizing the importance of education in economic development and community well-being. He highlights ETSU's initiatives like the "Grow Your Own" programs and partnerships with local businesses to address workforce needs, particularly in healthcare and education. Dr. Noland also discusses the challenges of teacher recruitment and retention in rural areas and the university's efforts to overcome these barriers. The conversation delves into the broader economic and social impacts of college-educated individuals in rural communities and the importance of building trust and long-term relationships. Dr. Noland's insights offer a compelling look at how higher education institutions can play a pivotal role in supporting and transforming rural America.

Dr. Noland’s Socials

X (formally Twitter): https://x.com/ETSUPrez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etsuprez/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-noland-etsu/

ETSU’s Socials

X (formally Twitter): https://x.com/etsu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etsu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/east-tennessee-state-university

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easttennesseestateuniversity/

ETSU is part of Four the Future, a statewide initiative to showcase the value of a four-year degree for Tennesseans. Learn more at fourthefuturetn.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FourTheFutureTN/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/four-the-future-tn/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode of "The Rural Scoop," Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee discusses the AZ 529 Education Savings Plan and its benefits for rural communities. As the first Asian American elected to a statewide office in Arizona, Treasurer Yee has significantly expanded the program, making higher education and vocational training more accessible. She highlights the plan's tax advantages, flexibility, and recent enhancements, such as the ability to transfer leftover funds to a Roth IRA. Treasurer Yee also shares success stories from rural outreach and emphasizes the importance of financial literacy for families. Tune in to learn how the AZ 529 plan can support your child's educational future.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode of "The Rural Scoop," host Melissa interviews Adam Cheeseman, the superintendent of Doddridge County Schools in West Virginia. Adam shares his journey from becoming a superintendent at the age of 31 to his innovative approaches to education. He discusses the importance of addressing mental health and holistic child development to improve academic performance. Adam also highlights the success of public-private partnerships in creating localized curricula that prepare students for the workforce. He emphasizes the value of community engagement and advocacy in rural education. Adam's passion for rural education and community development shines through as he prepares to keynote at the Arizona Rural Schools Association's annual conference.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode, Melissa interviews Dr. Jaime Festa-Daigle, President Elect of the Arizona Rural Schools Association. They discuss the unique challenges facing rural districts like Jamie's district in Lake Havasu City, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty impacting youth, and teacher recruitment and retention difficulties. Jamie highlights initiatives her district has taken, including growing their own teachers, working closely with the community, and focusing on career and technical education pathways. They also talk about ARSA's goals of networking rural educators, advocating for rural issues like full-day kindergarten funding, and keeping a laser focus on quality teaching and learning. Jamie shares her vision for ARSA bringing rural voices together and preparing the next generation of rural leaders.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa as she interviews, Andy Wannemacher, the superintendent of the Aguila Elementary School District, a small rural district in west-central Arizona. Andy shares his journey from a business background to becoming an educator and superintendent in a rural community. He discusses the challenges of rural education, including poverty, English language learners, teacher recruitment, school safety, and limited resources. Andy highlights the importance of building a positive school culture, character education, and using local community assets to enhance educational outcomes. He also emphasizes the advantages of rural education, such as close-knit communities, personalized connections with students and families, and the ability to problem-solve face-to-face. Despite the challenges, Andy's passion for rural education shines through as he reflects on the successes of his school and the joy of watching students grow and thrive.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Join Melissa as she interviews, Sean Rickert, incoming president of the Arizona Rural Schools Association, who discusses his goals and priorities for supporting and advocating for rural education in Arizona over the next few years. He emphasizes the importance of bringing rural education leaders together through conferences, roundtables, and other events to network, share resources and solutions, and amplify the voices and needs of rural schools. Rickert notes the persistent challenges of teacher recruitment and retention in rural areas and predicts an evolution in how education is delivered, with more personalized and technology-enabled approaches. His overarching aim is to listen to rural districts to understand their diverse needs and help them access the resources and relationships to provide quality education for rural students.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

Melissa and Ty interview education professors Dr. Sara Hartman and Dr. Bob Klein about their book "The Middle of Somewhere," highlighting innovative rural partnerships improving access and opportunity. They share how their passion for rural spaces motivated the book to address challenges like teacher shortages and limited funding. Key to successful partnerships are champions, mutual benefits, and sustainability. The book's sections on access, advocacy and equity showcase major rural issues. Sara and Bob discuss policy decisions often overlooking rural contexts, as the book informs more equitable advocacy. Envisioning an exciting future for increasingly diverse rural schools, they stress valuing place when preparing students. Sarah and Bob urge nurturing committed cross-sector partnerships to utilize rural connectivity and enduring, essential rural spaces. Overall the book conveys rural youth and communities as "somewhere" despite prevailing negative stereotypes.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, hosts Melissa and Ty interview Allison Mitkowski, the 2023 Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year who teaches English, economics, and government at Williams High School. Allison discusses the tight-knit rural community and deep connections with students and families. She highlights the logistical challenges of rural schools, like lack of housing and internet access. Allison wears many hats, teaching several subjects and sponsoring extracurriculars focused on inclusion. She shares rewarding experiences reaching students, from playing chess with a student she first bonded with while delivering homework during COVID, to establishing an engaging mock trial program with the courts. Allison advocates for rural teacher retention and recruitment. She encourages rural teaching for those who love deep community ties and making an impact through relationships. Though Allison didn't intend to become a teacher originally, she finds rural education profoundly meaningful.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081

In this episode of The Rural Scoop podcast, host Melissa interviews Josie McClain, a 2nd-grade teacher at Paloma Elementary School District in Arizona. Josie discusses her journey from Michigan to teaching in a rural Arizona community. She highlights the tight-knit, family atmosphere and small class sizes as advantages of rural schools. Josie wears many hats as a teacher, including integrating art and music. She faces challenges like a lack of internet access for students. Josie values building relationships with students and focuses on social-emotional learning. She is working towards National Board Certification. Josie encourages teachers to consider rural settings for autonomy, support from administrators, and the ability to have an impact. She didn't initially plan on rural teaching but has found it rewarding.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/ruralscoop for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

Our theme song is Quittin Time Rag by Lon Eldridge. Find his music at https://www.loneldridge.com/

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:

© 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved.

The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles.

For permission requests, please contact:

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (520) 266-0081