Stronger Together: Rural Schools Learning From Rural Schools

One of the realities of working in a small rural school district is that many of our staff members are the only person, or one of just a few people, in the district doing their particular job. In a larger district, a math teacher may have an entire department of colleagues down the hall. A school counselor, music teacher, special education director, business manager or superintendent may have several colleagues in similar roles to collaborate with every day.

At McKenzie, like many of our neighboring rural districts, that isn’t always possible.

That is one of the reasons I am so excited about the work happening through the Lane Rural District Professional Development Collaborative.

Last Friday, McKenzie had the opportunity to host the Collaborative’s first professional development day of the 2026–27 school year. Seeing the Old Gym filled with educators from small districts across Lane County was a powerful reminder that while each of our districts may be small, together we have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to share.

After beginning the morning together, staff broke into professional learning communities based on the work they do. Elementary teachers worked with other elementary teachers, while colleagues in math, science, English and social studies, music, health and PE, CTE, preschool, special education, counseling, library services, educational assistance, business services, data and reporting, and district leadership had opportunities to collaborate with people doing similar work in other rural schools.

That kind of collaboration is particularly valuable in small districts. Instead of our music teacher having only colleagues within McKenzie to brainstorm with, for example, the Collaborative creates an opportunity to connect with other rural music educators who understand both the opportunities and challenges that come with running a small-school program.

The afternoon expanded those opportunities further. Staff could participate in sessions on OSAS interim assessments, yearbook collaboration, special education leadership, and ways students can demonstrate mastery of learner-profile skills through student-led conferences, showcase presentations, and capstone projects.

There is also something important about simply getting educators into one another’s schools. We get to see different classrooms, exchange ideas, learn how another district approaches a problem, and build relationships that continue long after a professional development day ends.

For our students, the benefit may not always be immediately visible, but it is significant. When educators have opportunities to learn from one another, bring back new ideas, and develop networks of colleagues they can call when they encounter a challenge, our students ultimately benefit.

It is exactly the kind of collaboration that makes sense for rural schools: instead of allowing our small size to limit us, we use it as a reason to work together.

Around McKenzie This Week

We have another busy week ahead. Monday, middle school volleyball hosts Triangle Lake at 4:30 p.m. in the Old Gym, followed Tuesday by high school volleyball hosting Triangle Lake at 6:00 p.m. in the New Gym.

Wednesday will be especially active. Our seventh- and eighth-grade students will travel to Carmen Diversion for Salmon Watch, providing an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom and into the watershed that surrounds our community. Middle school volleyball and football will host Eddyville beginning at 4:30 and 5:00 p.m., respectively. Our Facilities Committee will also meet at 5:00 p.m. as it continues its work on the district’s Long Range Facility Planning process.

On Thursday, high school volleyball travels to Mapleton for a 6:00 p.m. match. Friday brings another day of learning outside the traditional classroom as our WATERS class meets. Our middle and high school cross-country runners will compete at the Champs Invite, while high school football travels to Crow for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Whether it is students learning about salmon in the McKenzie watershed, staff learning alongside educators from neighboring districts, or our Facilities Committee planning for the future of our campus, there is a common thread: some of our best work happens when we learn from one another and work together.

Thank you to everyone who helped us welcome our rural district partners to McKenzie last Friday. We were proud to host them and we’re looking forward to seeing where this collaboration takes us next.