SHARING RURAL SOLUTIONS
Registration is now open for 2026!
February 19 – February 20, 2026 | Georgetown, TX
Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center
ESC Region 13 and System of Service Centers Rural Schools Spring Conference
Texas Rural Schools Spring Conference is about collaborating with fellow educators who work in rural schools to share successful strategies for this unique educational setting.
Participants will leave with innovative tools and strategies for immediate application in their campus or district. Last year, topics included teacher retention and recruitment, remote coaching, PLCs, accountability, and so much more!
There will be highly engaging breakout sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, and rich discussions with peers.
Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your network and impact student growth!
The Texas Rural Education Association (TREA) is proud to partner with ESC 13 in providing resources to educators in small and rural schools. TREA is affiliated with the National Rural Education Association (NREA) and can provide a national perspective to Texas educators.
School leaders in rural schools wear many hats. This conference provides insight and reminds us we are not alone in our endeavor but have a support system as big as Texas!
I am the only elementary principal in our district. The Rural Schools Conference allows me to connect with other elementary principals and focus on my own growth as a campus leader.
Keynote Speakers
Bryan Goodwin
Bryan Goodwin currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the McREL Institute at Region 13, where he will be guiding the Institute’s research and professional learning programs. A former teacher and journalist, Mr. Goodwin has written a dozen books and more than 100 journal articles translating research into practical guidance for educators, including The New Classroom Instruction that Works (ASCD, 2022), Building a Curious School (Corwin, 2020), and Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning (ASCD, 2015). He is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and has helped schools and school systems across the nation and globe apply research to improve student outcomes. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Jonathan Eckert
Jonathan Eckert has spent his career helping students become more of who they are meant to be. Now the Copple Professor of Educational Leadership at Baylor University and executive director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership, he first taught and coached intermediate and middle grade students outside of Chicago and Nashville. After earning a doctorate at Vanderbilt University, he served in the U.S. Department of Education under both the Bush and Obama administrations and later prepared teachers at Wheaton College. He is the author of numerous articles and books including Just Teaching, Leading Together, The Novice Advantage, and next year’s release, The Happiness Crisis. Jon and his wife, Carolyn, raised three kids and are about to be empty nesters.
Hal Bowman
Today we will hear from a remarkable man with a unique perspective. After spending over 20 years in the classroom, Hal Bowman is now an accomplished speaker, author, and thought-leader in revolutionizing classroom and campus culture. Dedicated to understanding what makes great schools great, Hal has traveled the country sharing his research and insights with hundreds of thousands of teachers and administrators. In addition to being a 2-time best selling author, Hal is also the creator of programs such as Teach Like a Rock Star, Be The One, Change A Kid’s Life, and Culture Shock: From Surviving to Thriving His genuine passion for supporting educators to bring back meaning, purpose, and FUN to their jobs makes him a needed voice to hear from today.