Rural districts are not small versions of big systems. They are different systems with different constraints and different strengths. This three part NREA x SchoolSims webinar series is designed for rural and small district leaders who are building strong people systems with limited capacity. We will focus on practical, rural ready strategies for recruiting and selecting staff, strengthening onboarding and support, improving retention, and building sustainable structures that protect culture and reduce leader burnout. The series is offered at no cost to NREA members.
Session 1 – March 4, 2026 at 2pm CST
The Rural Talent Reality: Hiring in a Small Market and Building a Strong Fit
Finding and hiring exceptional school principals has never been more challenging. Applicant pools are shrinking, workloads are increasing, and districts must compete aggressively—and strategically—to attract top talent. In this session we will explore a practical, research-based framework for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen every stage of the principal hiring pipeline.
In addition, participants will also engage in a Superintendent Simulation in which the school board has requested a voice in the process of selecting and hiring a new high school principal. Participants will have to deal with biases in the process as they arise with the Board.
Session 2 – April 23, 2026 at 2pm CST
Small District Budget Crisis
In this webinar we will explore some of the key challenges in navigating the district budgeting process. Often, the challenge begins with understanding the context and underlying Tradeoffs that are at play – finding the balance between the needs of specific community members while deciding what is in the best interest of students. At the same time needing to determine to what degree you can balance transparency and confidentiality. During the Webinar, participants will engage in a simulation that places them as a new Superintendent taking over a small school district that happens to be the primary employer in the community. When a budget shortfall is discovered, participants, as the Superintendent, must decide which resources to involve in the resolution while balancing transparency and strategy among key constituencies. They will need to decide which conditions warrant more persistence versus flexibility while keeping the focus on students.
Session 3 – May 28, 2026 at 2pm CST
Political Leadership in the Superintendency
The goal of this Webinar is to help aspiring and sitting superintendents to explore a Political Leadership Framework to hone their skills so that they can more effectively lead change through complexity. We will share the Framework and then engage in a Superintendent level Simulation to challenge participants with various scenarios that require them to engage in the following proactive political leadership skills: visioning, communicating, political mapping, mobilizing and relationships building, while gaining and sustaining public trust and internal support. The central issue in the simulation exercise focuses on a district’s discipline policy and its relationship with school safety—an issue that nearly all superintendents will encounter throughout their career.
