LAKE HAVASU CITY — Allie Nudelman, Special Education Director for Lake Havasu Unified School District, recently joined Vicki Trujillo, Special Education Director for Kingman Unified School District (KUSD), and Allan Smith, BCBA, to present at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education. The prestigious national conference highlights innovation and collaboration in rural school systems across the country.
The trio’s proposal focused on how districts throughout Mohave County work together to support students with special needs. It was selected earlier this year from proposals submitted by educators, researchers, and university faculty nationwide.
“Our team was honored to share how our work in Mohave County directly impacts students in rural Arizona every single day,” said Nudelman. “Most of the other presenters were university professors or organizational owners who spoke about research impacting rural education, so it meant a lot to represent educators and administrators who make a hands-on difference in classrooms on a daily basis.”
Nudelman and her colleagues’ presentation drew attention from Hayley Spira-Bauer, Chief Operating Officer of Fullmind, an organization that assists in filling teacher vacancies and improving learning outcomes. Spira-Bauer was inspired by the team’s collaborative approach and focus on student support. Following the presentation, Spira-Bauer connected the team with educators in Texas who are building Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for rural communities and invited them to appear on an upcoming episode of the Learning Can’t Wait to discuss their work further.
The National Forum to Advance Rural Education brings together educators, policymakers, and researchers from across the United States to share strategies that improve educational outcomes in rural communities. Nudelman’s participation highlights the growing recognition of Mohave County’s innovative approaches to student support, teamwork, and education that is inclusive of every student, every day.
