named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Program
Engages in policy advocacy by analyzing state budgets, issuing veto requests, testifying at hearings, and collaborating with other education associations
RSA Alerts
Regular updates including Albany Alerts and Washington Watch to inform members about legislative and regulatory proposals affecting rural education
RSA Today
Monthly publication highlighting programs, events, and policy issues relevant to rural school districts in New York State
Regional Forums
Collaborative events with partner organizations to increase local access to RSA resources and programming
Summer Conference
Annual event featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities focused on rural education themes such as equity, leadership, mental health, and technology
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 2 activities
- Annual and regional conferences for rural education professionalsOrganizes and hosts an annual summer conference in Lake Placid, NY, as well as regional and statewide conferences to address key issues facing rural school districts, featuring professional development sessions and networking opportunities.
- On-demand outreach and presentation services for member districtsTravels to member school districts upon request to deliver presentations on timely educational issues and participates in conferences and forums to engage with educators, business leaders, and higher education institutions.
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Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 1 activity
- Advocacy for rural school districts at state and federal levelsConducts advocacy before the New York State Board of Regents, legislative education committees, and federal bodies by providing testimony, written reports, bill memos, budget analysis, and veto requests to advance the interests of rural school districts. Coordinates legislative priorities based on input from regional forums and collaborates with national organizations like the National Rural Education Association.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Information dissemination and communication support for member districtsOperates as a clearinghouse for information by publishing newsletters (RSA Today), alerts (Albany Alerts, Washington Watch, RSA Alerts), and video clips to keep member districts informed about policy developments, programs, and advocacy progress. Facilitates communication among rural school leaders across New York State.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Professional development and capacity building for rural educatorsProvides professional development through webinars, regional forums, annual conferences, breakout sessions, and collaborative events focused on practical strategies for rural school districts. Offers ongoing support in areas such as curriculum, instruction, staffing, and administration.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognition programs for rural schools and educatorsAdministers awards and recognition programs including the Rural Teacher of the Year, student video contests, and an annual awards dinner to highlight excellence and achievements in rural education. Recognizes both individual educators and schools for their contributions to rural communities.
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Education Policy Research and Analysis 1 activity
- Research on challenges and policy issues affecting rural schoolsConducts and publishes research reports on key challenges facing rural and small school districts in New York State, including findings from statewide forums and collaborative advocacy statements. Research is used to inform members, the public, and policymakers.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- STEM education support for rural elementary schoolsProvides five rural elementary schools with mobile Maker Carts containing over 18,000 STEM components each and awards $2,000 in professional development funding per district to support hands-on engineering and STEM instruction.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$567K
Contributions & grants$272K48%
Program service revenue$286K50%
Investment income$9K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$497K
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead37%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$308K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$424K
Cash$404K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$424K
Liquid reserves9.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +17.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 24
- Andrew Cook — Director
- Andy Doell — Director
- Brian Moore — Director
- Carolyn Ostrander — Director
- Chris Clapper — Director
- David Wicks — Director
- David Ziskin — Director
- Doug Gustin — Director
- Eileen Feinman — Director
- Elissa Smith — Director
- Greg Molloy — Director
- John Burns — Director
- John Evans — Director
- Kelly Zimmerman — Director
- Kevin MacDonald — Director
- Kyle Belokpitsky — Director
- Leisa Boise — Director
- Linda Competillo — Director
- Linda Hoffman — Director
- Lisa Mount — Director
- Lori Asquith — Director
- Lynne Rutnick — Director
- Mark Davey — Vice President
- Mary Myers — Director
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- Apptegy Partner — Presents on improving communication systems between schools and families using digital tools.
- BOCES District Superintendents Partner — Appoint two delegates to the RSA Board of Directors.
- Bloomfield Middle High School Partner — Partner school whose students have won awards in the RSA student video contest.
- Board of Regents Government — Regularly attends meetings and provides input on behalf of rural school districts.
- Bridgehampton School Partner — Partner school whose students have won awards in the RSA student video contest.
- C2AE Partner — Presents on a collaborative approach to extreme weather preparedness and recovery in K–12 school settings.
- Cattaraugus Allegany BOCES Partner — Partner organization whose students have repeatedly participated in and won awards in the RSA student video contest.
- Clark Foundation Funder — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by William Crankshaw
- College Board Partner — Presents on increasing relevancy for all New York students through curriculum and access initiatives.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Presents a replicable model for integrating classroom and community learning in rural elementary schools.
- Council on Rural Education Partner — Co-sponsored the 1978 statewide conference that led to the founding of RSA.
- FEH BOCES Partner — Coordinates conference registration for the Rural Schools Association of New York State.
- Hamilton Central School District Partner — Partner school district whose students have been recognized as runners-up in the RSA student video contest.
- Higher Education Representatives Partner — Three representatives appointed to the RSA Board of Directors.
- Honeoye Central School District Partner — Partner school district whose students have won awards in the RSA student video contest.
- Mental Health Association in New York State Partner — Co-presents a breakout session on expanding mental health supports in rural schools through the School Mental Health Resource and Training Center.
- NRE Advocacy Consortium Partner — RSA helps run the NRE Advocacy Consortium, the advocacy arm of the National Rural Education Association.
- NY Congress of Parents and Teachers Partner — Appoints two delegates to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NY Farm Bureau Partner — Appoints one delegate to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NY Grange Partner — Appoints one delegate to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NYS Council of School Superintendents Partner — Appoints one delegate to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NYS Education Department Government — Appoints one delegate to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NYS Farm Bureau Partner — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by Patricia Eshelman
- NYS Grange Partner — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by Carolyn Ostrander
- NYS Parent and Teacher Association Partner — Collaborates with RSA through representation by its Executive Director on the RSA Board of Directors
- NYS School Boards Association Partner — Appoints one delegate to the RSA Board of Directors.
- NYS School Boards Association Partner — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by Pete Nowacki
- NYSCOSS Partner — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by Andy Doell and Jennifer Gaffney
- NYSSBA Partner — Represented on the RSA Board of Directors by Pete Nowacki
- National Grid Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the Rural Schools Maker Space Initiative.
+ 16 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Knowledge Sharing and Collaborative Problem Solvingmethodology: multi-stakeholder_engagementBy convening multi-stakeholder forums and disseminating promising practices, the organization enables rural schools to identify and implement solutions collectively, because shared learning across districts accelerates innovation and builds resilience in isolated communities.
- Policy Advocacy Informed by Research and Rural Voicemethodology: policy_advocacyBy conducting research and amplifying the rural perspective in policy discussions, the organization advocates for rural school districts to influence state and federal policies, because evidence-based representation increases the likelihood that legislation addresses the unique needs of rural schools.
- Strategic Partnerships to Extend Capacitymethodology: strategic_partnershipsBy partnering with vetted and like-minded organizations, the organization amplifies its policy reach and expands resource access for rural schools, because strategic alliances increase influence and efficiency in advocacy and service delivery.