Rethinking Resources: How Rural Schools Can Innovate with What They Have to Create Schools Kids Love

Rural schools often face unique challenges: limited budgets, small staffs, geographic isolation, and high expectations from their communities. Yet these very challenges can open the door to creative solutions that put students first. Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools and founder of the Indiana Microschool Collaborative, has led efforts to reimagine learning by blending tradition with innovation. From launching microschools to creating a culture grounded in joy, connection, growth, and success, his work demonstrates how schools can expand opportunities for students while maximizing the resources they already have.

In this session with Follett Software, Dr. Philhower will share how schools can:

• Reimagine how money, people, and time are organized to maximize student learning

• Use personalized learning and microschool models to unlock new opportunities without adding new layers of bureaucracy

• Build trust with communities by being transparent, equitable, and student-centered in resource decisions

• Invest in systems and partnerships that free staff to focus on what matters most: student success

This session is designed for superintendents, district leaders, and curriculum directors who want practical strategies to not only manage resources but also transform them into opportunities for innovation and growth.