Our leaders come from rural areas throughout the nation. Individually and as a group, they bring a myriad of talents and strengths to the association. One thing is certain: each person desires to be the voice of rural schools and help provide the information and resources they need to excel.
Dr. Melissa Sadorf serves as the Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association, bringing over 30 years of experience in rural education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Arizona. A recognized advocate for rural schools, she previously led the Arizona Rural Schools Association and now continues her work in higher education, preparing the next generation of school leaders.
Dr. Sadorf is the author of The Resilient Rural Leader: Rising to the Challenges of Rural Education (ASCD, 2024) and host of The Rural Scoop podcast, where she uplifts rural voices and shares strategies for resilient, place-based leadership. She is committed to strengthening NREA’s role as a national convener and catalyst for rural innovation, policy, and leadership development.
Dr. Devon Brenner, director of the SSRC and professor of teacher education in the College of Education. Brenner’s research focuses on rural teacher recruitment and retention and rural education policy. Brenner is PI on the NSF-funded collaborative research grant Teacher Preparation for Rural Teacher Persistence and Retention (TPR)2, a collaboration with 14 rural serving institutions across the US, and recently co-authored the rural teacher education textbook, Teaching in Rural Places: Thriving in Classrooms, Schools and Communities. Brenner coordinates the Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship Program, a state chapter of a national program that trains education leaders to engage in education policy and advocacy and co-edits The Rural Educator, journal of the National Rural Education Association.
Dr. Bill Chapman was named the superintendent for the Palacios Independent School District in Palacios, TX in August 2020. Prior to Palacios, he spent eight years as superintendent in Jarrell, TX and also served as a school administrator in Coldspring, Willis, and Huntsville. Before he became a school administrator, he was a teacher and coach in both Huntsville and Corpus Christi, TX. He is now the Superintendent at London ISD in Corpus Christi.
Hailing from South Carolina, Darris Means is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Dean’s Fellow for Rural Education at Clemson University. In his scholarship and practice, Darris seeks to increase access to resources and opportunities for rural youth. Darris has been actively engaged with the National Rural Education Association since 2017, including serving as the Higher Education Representative on the Executive Board. In addition to NREA, Darris has previously served in several leadership and advisory capacities, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Ad-Hoc Committee on K-12 STEM Education and Workforce Development in Rural Areas; the advisory board for the Ascendium Education Group to help develop a National Rural Research Agenda; and a research advisory board for the Joan Ganz Cooney Center for a project about how public media could better connect with teens and tweens.
Mr. David M. Ardrey is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS). His decade-long service to the NREA includes his recent Presidency of the NREA in 2023; numerous board positions, committees, and legislative work; and serving on the NREA Foundation board. Mr. Ardrey served in the role of Interim Executive Director until the appointment Dr. Sadorf.
John Glasgow serves as the Associate Director for the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools at Western Illinois University, where he leads the Rural IL Career & Technical Education Project in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education. Prior to working with AIRSS, he was the Partnerships Manager at Rural Schools Collaborative and supported network growth and rural teacher preparation efforts. John was born and raised in west central Illinois, and entered rural education advocacy to give back to the people and places that raised him by fostering rural student and community success.
Allison Nys grew up in Montana and has spent her entire educational career in Montana. Allison taught for 16 years in a rural school (average 60 students K-6) which happened to be the same rural school she attended as a child. She has another 11 years in administration as a principal and curriculum director. She holds degrees in Art (K-12 teaching), K-8 Teaching and Educational Leadership along with a Superintendent Licensure.
Allison is heavily involved with rural education and has been an active member of the National Rural Education Association since 2006, after winning the Montana Rural Teacher of the year award. She has sat on the Executive Board since 2010 and was the President of the association twice (2016 & 2022).
Jeff Byrd is the current superintendent of Dalhart Independent School District, with previous superintendent experience in Vernon, Claude, and Gorman. According to the Dalhart Texan, Jeff graduated from Eastland High School in 1989 and went on to earn a BS degree from Tarleton State University in 1993. He also has an MS degree from West Texas A & M University.
Jeff has been involved with the NREA for the past 11 years, including his involvement with NREA State Affiliate, Texas Rural Education Association. He has been both a regional representative and President of TXREA in his time there. Jeff is honored to be able to continue supporting the work of the NREA in this new capacity.
Dr. Murray has been in education for over 25 years and currently serves as the principal/administrator for Northport Career Tech Annex. Prior to his current position, Murray served as Principal of David Emerson Middle School. He has also served as an assistant principal, teacher, and adjunct professor. Mr. Murray is involved with Council for Leaders in Alabama (CLAS), Alabama Association of Secondary School Principal (AASSP), and the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) as a super 7 member/host amongst many other professional organizations.
Dr. Steven L. Johnson has been the superintendent of schools for the Lisbon Public Schools in Lisbon, North Dakota, since 1993. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He received his Master’s from North Dakota State University in Fargo and his undergraduate degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.
Dr. Johnson is an author and peer reviewer for the Global Education Review periodical. A special interest of Dr. Johnson is the impact of declining enrollments in rural school districts.
• BS in Accounting/Education-University of Maine-Machias-1967
• MEd-School Administration University of Maine-Orono—1980
• CAS-Superintendency-University of Maine-Orono-1983
• Taught Business Education 1967-69, 73-80, Van Buren Jr-Sr High School
• Assistant Principal at Van Buren Jr-Sr High School-1980-83.
US Air Force-Russian
Linguist/Translator-1969-73
• Superintendent of Schools, various school districts-1983-2013
• Mid Coast School of Technology School Board-2014-present
• Northeast & The Islands Regional Educational Lab Governing Board-2014-present
• National Rural Education Association Executive Board-2017-present
• Inducted into the NREA Hall of Fame-2022
• Maine’s Superintendent of the Year-1989
• Maine Small Schools Coalition-NREA Legislative Representative-2005-present
• AASA/Apple Computer President’s Technology Award-2003
Amy Price Azano is a professor of rural education and founding director of the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech. Her scholarship is focused on youth talent development and educational opportunities in rural schools and communities. Price Azano has published numerous journal articles and book chapters, is the co-editor of Rural Education and Queer Identities: Rural and (Out)Rooted, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Rural Education in the United States, and Gifted Education in Rural Schools: Developing Place-Based Interventions; and co-author of Teaching in Rural Places: Thriving in Classrooms, Schools, and Communities. In 2021, Price Azano received the Stanley A. Brzezinski Memorial Rural Education Research Award from the National Rural Education Association. She is the former chair of AERA’s Rural Education SIG, and former co-editor and a current advisory board member of The Rural Educator.
Christopher Lagoni began his career as a middle school teacher in Indiana and is currently the State Director for Indiana Small and Rural Schools. He loves helping people understand the geographical, population density, and staffing differences that occur in rural areas and believes the best way to end generational poverty, protect democracy, and advocate for equal opportunity is through a rigorous education.
Dr. Alissa Sasser is the Partnerships Specialist for the Office of Rural Education and Innovation. She is originally from rural upstate New York and moved to Mt. Vernon, Ga in 1996 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from Brewton-Parker College. In 2018, Dr. Sasser obtained her Doctoral degree from Georgia Southern University. During her 23-year tenure in public education, she has served students in rural districts throughout southeast Georgia as a teacher, cheerleading coach, as well as a school and district administrator.
Dr. Allen Pratt served as the Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association from 2017-2024. Dr. Pratt has been instrumental in advancing the mission of the NREA, tirelessly advocating for the needs of rural schools, educators, and students across the nation. His leadership has been a driving force in shaping and implementing policies that support and uplift rural education. Under Dr. Pratt’s guidance, the NREA has forged critical partnerships and developed programs that will continue to thrive and evolve under the capable leadership of the NREA team.
Rural Research Advisory Committee
Chair: Pam Buffington PBuffington@edc.org
Members: Sarah Schmitt-Wilson, Montana State University; Nicole Miller, Mississippi State University; Erin McHenry-Sorber, West Virginia University; Sara Hartman, University of Ohio; Kessa Roberts, Utah State University; Cat Biddle, University of Maine; Loni Crumb, East Carolina University; Karen Eppley Penn State; Victoria Schaefer, SRI; Guan Saw, Claremont Graduate University; Mike Martin, Buckeye Central High School, Ohio; Kathleen Mullen, Boise State University; Chris Lagoni, Indiana Wesleyan University
The Rural Educator Advisory Board
Chair: Kessa Roberts kessa.roberts@usu.edu
Members: Maria Coady, Loni Crumb, Douglas Gagnon, Kristina Hesbol, Glen Lineberry, Darris Means, Alex Red Corn, Jennifer Seelig, Susan Faircloth, Amy Azano, Stephanie Oudghiri
Editors: Sara Hartman, Sarah Zuckerman, Erin McHenry-Sorber, Daniella Sutherland, Devon Brenner
Social Media: Ashley Leggett-Bradley
Awards and Recognitions (Teacher of the Year)
Co-Chair: Jason Bell jbell@polkcountyschools.com
Co-Chair: Allison Nys allisonnys72@gmail.com
Members: Wade Owlet, Jerry Stout, Brandi Varnell, Jennifer Maras, Ty White, Laurie Smith, Scott Turney, Melissa Sadorf
NREA Foundation
Chair: Allison Nys allisonnys72@gmail.com
Members: Sean Rickert, Heather Zellers, Jeff Eide, Chris Lagoni, Brad Mitchell, Ty White, Devon Brenner, Max Thompson, Allison Nys, Wade Owlett, Melissa Sadorf (ex officio), Scott Turney (treasurer)
Centers Network
Chair: Amy Azano azano@vt.edu
Members: Jayne Downey, Jerry Johnson, Stephanie Oudghiri
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice (EDIJ)
Chair: Jim LaPrad jg-LaPrad@wiu.edu
Vice Chair: Sarah Grubb sjgrubb@iu.edu
Members: Michelle Rasheed, Scott Turney, Annie Maselli, Gerri Maxwell, Shu-Yuan Lin, Hannah Kelly, Jenay Willis, Shanna Peeples, Bibek Luitel
Legislative Committee
Chair: Bill Chapman bill.chapman@londonisd.net
Members: David Ardrey, Heather Zellers, Jerry Cochran, Jerry White, Jaime Green, Jerry Johnson, Melissa Sadorf, Ray Patrick, Amanda Tullos, Sean Rickert, Chris Lagoni, Jerry White, Jack Moles, Bill Tarleton
