Posted on June 24, 2026 by Katelyn Juarez
Education leaders from across Texas gathered at UT San Antonio to discuss strengthening educational pathways, addressing workforce challenges, and building partnerships that support rural communities.
Dr. Alonzo Flowers provides opening remarks at the State of Rural Education Summit
The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education and Human Development hosted the State of Rural Education Summit that brought together educators, higher education leaders and community advocates to discuss opportunities and challenges facing rural schools across Texas.
The summit focused on strengthening educational pathways, increasing access to higher education and supporting the unique needs of rural students and communities.
Dean Mario Torres welcomed attendees by highlighting the importance of broadening the university’s commitment to communities beyond urban areas.
Torres noted that rural communities face modern challenges related to health care, broadband access and education, making conversations like the summit both timely and necessary.
Keynote speaker Nichole S. Prescott, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas System, emphasized the significant role rural education plays in Texas and across the nation.
“Texas is home to the largest number of rural students in the nation and the largest number of rural schools,” Prescott said.
Prescott highlighted a major challenge facing rural students. While they graduate high school at higher rates than their urban peers, they complete college at lower rates.
“This is not a motivation gap, it’s not a readiness gap, and its certainly not a values gap,” Prescott said. “It’s a structural access problem.”
Drawing from both research and personal experience growing up in Del Rio, Texas, Prescott discussed barriers that rural students face, including limited access to colleges, transportation challenges, financial pressures, and broadband connectivity gaps.
A panel discussion featuring leaders from K-12 education and higher education explored both the strengths and challenges of rural communities.
Panelists pointed to strong community connections, multigenerational relationships and a deep sense of belonging as some of rural Texas’ greatest assets.
“You feel such a sense of belonging,” said Pearsall ISD Superintendent Jodi Spoor, EdD. “People know your kid, you feel known and seen.”
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Vice President for Student Success Robert Ayala, PhD, said those relationships can play a critical role in student success.
“Folks from rural communities find power in those relationships,” Ayala said.
Panelists also discussed challenges related to technology access, affordability, leadership retention and connecting students to higher education opportunities.
“We have students that want to be engineers, we have students that want to be teachers too, we just need to get them connected,” said Cotulla ISD Superintendent Ramiro Nava, EdD.
Throughout the summit, speakers emphasized that rural communities should be viewed through an asset based lens, recognizing their resilience, cultural wealth and leadership. Attendees of the summit were encouraged to continue building partnerships that create opportunities for students and strengthen communities across rural Texas.
As discussions concluded, a common theme emerged: addressing rural education challenges requires collaboration, intentionality and a commitment to designing systems that meet students where they are.
— Katelyn Juarez
