๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ:
In this episode, Dr. Melissa Sadorf sits down with Dr. Steven Johnson, superintendent of Fort Ransom School District in North Dakota and long-time rural education advocate. With five decades of experienceโas a rural leader, practitioner, policy translator, and farmerโSteve shares real-world stories of how policy decisions ripple through small communities.
The conversation traces Steveโs work in federal advocacy, the decision his district recently made to suspend operations due to declining enrollment, and why stable funding and protection of vulnerable learners must remain non-negotiable. Steve also reflects on his writing, his love of rural life, and what the โrural advantageโ truly means.
๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฌ:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:46 Steve's Background and Rural Advocacy
02:48 Challenges in Rural Education
06:28 Understanding Rural Realities
10:24 School District Operations and Challenges
16:14 Federal Education Policies and Rural Impact
28:30 Leadership and Community Engagement
42:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ:
This episode shows rural leadership as both deeply personal and deeply civic. Steve illustrates how advocacy is not abstractโitโs lived in decisions about consolidation, compliance deadlines, teacher hiring, and federal allotments that determine real opportunities for students.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ:
โ Small systems need predictable and stable resources
โ Teacher and leadership retention is directly tied to student success
โ Advocacy is part of the jobโnot an extra
โ Rural communities hold leaders accountable because they live among the people they serve
Most of all, Steve reinforces that rural education thrives when honesty, community values, and student-centered decisions remain the filter for leadership.