Welcome to the Rural Voice, a podcast by the National Rural Education Association. This is the initial episode that introduces you, the listener to the co-hosts and the types of themes to be addressed in our podcast. The co-hosts discuss their backgrounds and experience in teaching and learning in rural America. They talk about their backgrounds, family, and interest in the topic of rural education. They conclude by welcoming listeners to the podcast.
Dr. Allen Pratt has served as a high school science teacher and coach, a high school principal, assistant superintendent/curriculum director, executive director of the Tennessee Rural Education Association, executive director of the East Tennessee Center of Regional Excellence for the Tennessee Department of Education, and rural outreach liaison for Lincoln Memorial University. His primary interests are those issues that impact rural schools and the role of instructional leaders at the district and building levels. He is also involved at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Education and Educational Leadership.He is entering his fourth year as Executive Director of the NREA. He has visited and presented in over 40 states during this time.
Dr. Jared Bigham currently serves as the Senior Advisor on Workforce & Rural Initiatives for the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. Before this, he served as the Executive Director of Chattanooga 2.0.Dr. Bigham has worked as the Director of College & Career Readiness with TN SCORE, and before this, Dr. Bigham served as a K-12 supervising principal, a high school principal, and an elementary principal. Dr. Bigham has served on multiple state and national committees, in addition to serving as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Rural Education Association, of which he is still an executive board member. He is a contributor to national education blogs like Edweek.org and the author of three books. Dr. Bigham is also an adjunct instructor at Liberty University, teaching classes in leadership, philosophy of education, and school/community relations.
Dr. Christopher F. Silver is a full-time lecturer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has served in many roles both in higher education as well as corporate America. Dr. Silver’s research focuses on issues of diversity and the psychology of religion. He is trained in the areas of psychometrics, measurement, evaluation, and interviewing. His research has focused on topics of authoritarianism, personality, religiosity and belief (including atheism), and leadership theory. He consults on a variety of grant-funded projects as the methodologist or co-PI. Further, Dr. Silver worked in the fields of Information Technology as well as Human Resources in adult training and assessment in various levels of management. His professional website is available at http://www.christophersilver.com