2025 Texas Rural School Spring Conference

Thank you for your interest in submitting a proposal to the Texas Rural Schools Conference!
The Texas Rural School Spring Conference will be held February 25-February 26, 2025 at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. Our goal is to bring Texas educators who work in rural areas together for networking and collaboration.

This unique conference was inspired by the work and findings of the Texas Rural School Task Force, a committee formed by Commissioner Mike Morath in 2016. Their work highlighted the challenges and best practices of rural schools across the state.
ABOUT THE TEXAS RURAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Our conference was developed in collaboration with the Texas Rural Education Association. In an increasingly complicated system, the Texas Rural Education Association is a voice for rural schools across Texas. Texas Rural Education Association is commited to supporting rural educators to find and apply resources essential to educating students.
"Big Things Happen Here"

In the spirit of networking and collaboration, the theme of our conference is " Big Things Happen Here." As reflected in the Spotlight Report, rural schools face challenges unique to their geographic setting. Educators are invited to connect through this conference to share practices that are integral to their success!
GENERAL GUIDELINES
All session proposals should include:
- Concise learning outcomes/objectives
- Tangible tools/strategies that can be used immediately and differentiated for rural districts/campuses
- Research or evidence-based best practices
- Clearly articulated connections to the:
  - Texas Rural School Spring Conference Strands (See Graphic Below w/subcategories)
  - Texas Rural School Spotlight Report
  - Conference Theme: Big Things Happen Here
- Embedded participant engagement/interaction
Texas House Bill 462 (HB462) prohibits the adoption and/or use of the Common Standards at the state, regional, and local level. By submitting this proposal form, presenters agree to refer only to the Texas Standards. Proposals with references to the Common Core Standards will not be accepted.
ITEMS TO NOTE
Proposal Applications:
- Presentations from State Agencies, ESCs, Non-Profits and businesses should include school district and/or campus presenters highlighting partnerships.
- Proposal applications must be submitted through this form by Janaury 10, 2025.
- Notifications for selected proposals will be sent to the primary presenter and co-presenters by January 16,2025.
- All proposals will be screened through a selection committee. Please note: submission of a completed proposal application does not guarantee selection.
Presenter Fees and Registration:
- Conference registration fees will be covered for one Primary Presenter and one Co-presenter per proposal. Additional co-presenters are responsible for their own registration fee. Presenters and all co-presenters are responsible for the cost of lodging.
- If your attendance at the conference is contingent on your proposal being selected, please wait to register for the conference until after you receive notification that your proposal has been accepted or declined.
SESSION FORMATS
General Breakout
Session Length: 60 minutes
Audience Size: Maximum of 60 people

General breakout sessions provide active and engaging learning in theater seating or round tables (9 participants per table). Participants will interact with others surrounding an issue, learn a new skill, develop an action plan, or other simliar activities. Proposals should include explicit opportunities for audience participation in the learning process. Participants should leave the session with information to share with their campus/district and/or new strategies to implement. Take-away ideas or strategies are essential.

Registration fees will be covered for one Primary Presenter and one Co-Presenter per proposal.
COMMERCIALISM
The purpose of the Texas Rural School Conference is to provide quality sessions focused on educational content, which is void of commercial influence or bias. Presentations that are sole descriptions of a program, publication, or product and/or constitute promotion and/or advertising will only be conducted in exhibitor-designated areas or listed sessions. Statements made should not be viewed as, or considered representative of, any formal position taken on any product, subject, or the Texas Education Agency.
Does your presentation promote a product or service?*

YesNo
If Yes, please describe the product or service (75 words max.)*
PRESENTER INFORMATION
The Primary Presenter listed below is responsible to appear and deliver presentation.
Please select your organization type*
What School District will be presenting with your organization? *
(District Partnerships are highly encouraged and will be considered in the proposal review. If no district partnership is available- Type "None")
What campus will be presenting with your organization?
(Type the campus name if applicable)
PRIMARY PRESENTER
Primary Presenter Name*

First NameLast Name
Title/Role*
Region
Name of School, District, or Organization*
E-mail*
Cell Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Biography- Connect your experience to the topic of your session (75 words max.)*
Upload Primary Presenter Picture

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CO-PRESENTERS
How many co-presenters will be included in your session?*
CO-PRESENTER 1
CO-PRESENTER 1
Co-Presenter 1 Name

First NameLast Name
Co-Presenter 1 Title/Role
Co-Presenter 1 Name of School, District, or Organization
Co-Presenter 1 Region
Co-Presenter 1 E-mail
Co-Presenter 1 Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Co-Presenter 1 Biography - Connect your experience to the topic of your session (max 75 words)
Upload Co-Presenter Picture 1

Upload a File

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CO-PRESENTER 2 (Registration and lodging not provided)
CO-PRESENTER 2
Co-Presenter 2 Name

First NameLast Name
Co-Presenter 2 Title/Role
Co-Presenter 2 Name of School, District, or Organization
Co-Presenter 2 Region
Co-Presenter 2 E-mail
Co-Presenter 2 Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Co-Presenter 2 Biography - Connect your experience to the topic of your session (max 75 words)
Upload Co-Presenter 2 Picture

Upload a File

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CO-PRESENTER 3 (Registration and lodging not provided)
CO-PRESENTER 3
Co-Presenter 3 Name

First NameLast Name
Co-Presenter 3 Title/Role
Co-Presenter 3 Name of School, District, or Organization
Co-Presenter 3 Region
Co-Presenter 3 E-mail
Co-Presenter 3 Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Co-Presenter 3 Biography - Connect your experience to the topic of your session (max 75 words)
Upload Co-Presenter 3 Picture (optional, but necessary if selected)

Upload a File

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SESSION INFORMATION
To align with the theme "Big Things Happen Here," our goal is to provide participants with an interactive conference experience by creating a space to reflect on current practices and glean new ideas to build on those practices. All breakout sessions should encourage participants to examine what practices they are doing now and how they can shift their work forward.
Audience to which your presentation MOST aligns*
Audience to which your presentation aligns SECONDARILY*
Grade Levels to which your presentation aligns*

ElementarySecondary
Rural Spotlight Report Strand*

Education SystemsCultureShared Leadership
Topics of Interest*

High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM)Artificial Intelligence (AI)Commissioner's Priorities
Session Title (Session title should describe/connect to the topic) (60 characters max)*
Session Description - Provide a rationale of how the topic/content is relevant to the needs of rural schools/districts. Clearly describe specific strategies and tools and how they can be used for immediate application at a campus/district with limited resources. This will appear in program app. (150 words max)*

0/150
Explain how the content in the session is supported by specific evidence-based best practices. Cite specific research and/or data collection.*
SESSION AGENDA
Please provide the session agenda and design with your proposal. Be sure to include the following:
- Time: How much time will be allocated for each component of the session?
- Content: Agenda includes learning objectives and activities that are aligned with the session description.
- Process: Active audience engagement is clear and includes specific adult learning strategies.
Example Agenda Template

Introduction (2-3 Minutes): Whole group learning: Participants will review session objectives and rationale/purpose.

(Include specific learning objectives for your session here)

Background and Context (5-7 Minutes): Whole group learning: Overview of research and/or data to support specific practices.

Group activity: (How will the audience experience the learning? How will you facilitate the learning and active engagement?)

Reflection and next steps (3-5 Minutes): Group activity where participants will reflect on and share out key takeaways for future use. Review session objectives/call to action.
Session Agenda*
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Are you willing to repeat your session?*

YesNo
Have you presented this session before at another conference?*

YesNo
Have you presented before at the Texas Rural Schools Spring Conference?*

YesNo
Additional Comments
Should be Empty:

Thank you for your interest in submitting a proposal to the Texas Rural Schools Conference!

ABOUT THE TEXAS RURAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

"Big Things Happen Here"

GENERAL GUIDELINES

ITEMS TO NOTE

SESSION FORMATS

COMMERCIALISM

PRESENTER INFORMATION

SESSION INFORMATION

SESSION AGENDA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION