While national education debates focus on broad policy issues, rural schools in Illinois are experiencing the most severe impacts of systemic challenges according to Superintendent Andrew Jordan. The educator warns that teacher shortages, funding disparities, and resource limitations are hitting small towns first and hardest, creating significant barriers for students in communities like those throughout Iroquois County.
"Policy gets made in Springfield, but the impact is felt in places like Stockton and other rural schools across the state of Illinois," Jordan says. "We have to solve problems with fewer people, smaller budgets, and limited resources. And yet the expectations are just as high if not higher." This disparity matters because it affects educational equity and opportunity for thousands of students who already face socioeconomic challenges.
The data reveals troubling patterns across rural Illinois. According to state statistics, Illinois ranks 23rd in the U.S. for per-student spending, with many rural schools falling well below that already modest state average. In Iroquois County specifically, nearly 60% of students are considered low-income, creating additional educational hurdles. Perhaps most concerning, rural districts are twice as likely to experience long-term teacher vacancies compared to suburban districts, creating instability in classrooms where consistency matters most.
Resource limitations extend beyond personnel. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, over 40% of rural schools in Illinois report not having access to full-time tutoring or enrichment support. Many rural schools, including Jordan's, serve communities where access to high-speed internet remains unreliable, affecting both online educational tools and the ability to recruit staff members who require modern connectivity. "Every stat like that represents a kid who's not getting what they need," Jordan says. "That's what keeps me up at night."
Despite these challenges, Jordan has demonstrated that local action can produce meaningful results. Through hands-on leadership, he has turned around underused spaces, secured over $270,000 in grant funding, and led programs that raised student achievement. "We didn't wait to update our library once we recognized we were under utilizing the space," Jordan explains. "We started with furniture design and a coat of paint. Then we wrote the grant and got our staff and stakeholders on board. That's how change works out here."
Jordan emphasizes that community involvement represents the most practical path forward for rural schools facing these systemic challenges. He has compiled a list of ten actionable steps community members can take immediately, ranging from volunteering for one hour at a local school to donating basic supplies like tissues, markers, or snacks through teacher wish lists. Other suggestions include hosting community fundraising events, with Jordan noting that his 3-on-3 basketball tournament raised over $50,000, and writing letters to local organizations like the Elks Lodge or Masonic Lodge about rural school needs.
Practical community solutions also include organizing shared transportation options for students facing transportation barriers, repurposing unused spaces in local buildings into tutoring areas, and starting local communication channels to share both good news and needs from area schools. Jordan encourages community members to support student groups by attending events or helping with logistics and to invite local leaders to visit schools to witness both successes and challenges firsthand.
"You don't have to fix the whole system," Jordan says. "You just have to move one piece forward. And every year you repeat the process and continue to move the school forward." His message underscores that educational improvement in rural areas requires sustained community engagement rather than waiting for statewide solutions. As rural schools face growing pressure from multiple directions, small towns across Illinois can lead by example through individual actions that collectively create meaningful change.
