National Rural Education Association Official Podcast - S01E02 -- Interview with Representative Mike Bost of the 12th District regarding Rural Education

S01E02 -- Interview with Representative Mike Bost of the 12th District regarding Rural Education

02/03/20 • 24 min

National Rural Education Association Official Podcast

In this episode of the Rural Voice, the co-hosts interview United States Congressman Mike Bost regarding his work on rural education and support of the Rural Education Investment Act. This act suggests investing in rural education as directed by local school districts throughout the United States. Representative Bost suggests that each local school board has its own individual challenges and therefore, funding should be directed by each school district. He discusses many of the prevailing trends in rural education. Representative Bost represents12 counties in Illinois’ 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sworn into office on January 6, 2015, Mike is continuing the fight for our Southern Illinois’ values in Washington – a fight he began in the U.S. military, then as a first responder, a local job creator, and a state representative. In the 116th Congress, Rep. Bost serves on three key committees: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and Transportation & Infrastructure. Mike also serves on the following Subcommittees: Commodities, Exchanges, Energy, and Credit; and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research under Agriculture; Oversight and Investigations, and as the lead Republican on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs under Veterans' Affairs; and Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; Highways and Transit; and Water Resources and Environment under Transportation and Infrastructure.

Previous Episode

S01E01 -- Interview with Brandon Gibson

The Rural Voice interviews the Honorable Brandon O. Gibson, who serves in the Office of the Governor of Tennessee. The co-hosts interview her regarding rural educational initiatives in Tennessee and how rural education varies between counties. She discusses some of the current initiatives within the state and the foci of the current administration. She discusses some of the current trends and how the landscape of rural education is changing.

Brandon O. Gibson is a native of Dyersburg. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Agribusiness in 1996 and a Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management in 1997. She graduated from the Southern Methodist University School of Law in 2000, and after practicing for a year in Tyler, Texas, moved to Jackson, where she practiced with the firm of Pentecost & Glenn PLLC. In December 2013, she was appointed to serve on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, and took office on September 1, 2014. In January 2019, she was named senior advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

Brandon is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, where she was co-chair of the TBA’s Leadership Law program and co-chair of the TBA’s Public Service Academy. She is active in the Tennessee Judicial Conference and is the Chair of the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct. Brandon is a graduate of Class IV of Leadership Tennessee and currently serves as the Chair of the Leadership Tennessee Advisory Council.

Next Episode

S01E03 -- Extra-Curricular Activities in Rural Education

In this episode of the Rural Voice, all three co-hosts discuss the importance of extra-curricular activities for not only teaching teamwork and social norms but also building community. The co-hosts share their own experiences with extra-curricular activities both as students as well as teachers and administrators. They discuss how these programs have changed and some of the challenges experienced by small schools in offering such programs. They talk about how these programs vary and the role they play in creating meaning for students by offering activities to keep kids out of trouble.