Category: Blog

  • Collegiate Edu-Nation Announces Structural Changes to Bolster Strategic Rural Focus and National Growth

     

    Collegiate Edu-Nation
    Dr. Kim Alexander

    [ROSCOE, TX – FEBRUARY 19, 2024] – Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN), a leading organization dedicated to educational advancement and empowerment in rural school districts, announces important changes to its organizational structure aimed at driving strategic rural initiatives and fostering national expansion for rural communities across the country.

    Dr. Kim Alexander, previously holding the position of CEO, will now transition to the role of Founder and CEO.  In his new role, Dr. Alexander will focus on the strategic expansion of Collegiate Edu-Nation’s vision for rural education and community support, aiming to extend its influence and initiatives beyond Roscoe to across the nation.

    Dr. Rachael McClain, formerly the Chief of Staff, has been promoted to President of Collegiate Edu-Nation. In her new role, Dr. McClain will lead the organization’s strategic directions, emphasizing K-12 education, postsecondary opportunities, and advocacy for rural communities. Her deep experience and commitment to education will guide CEN in its mission to transform rural education and support.

    Collegiate Edu-Nation
    Dr. Rachael McClain

    “I am deeply honored to step into the role of President at Collegiate Edu-Nation. This opportunity to lead and expand our transformative work in rural education and community support is not just a professional milestone, but a personal commitment to elevate the futures of our students and communities. Together, we will continue to innovate, inspire, and instill the values of excellence and inclusion across every facet of our mission,” states McClain.

    These changes reflect CEN’s commitment to enhancing its operational efficiency and maximizing its effectiveness in addressing the evolving educational needs of rural communities nationwide. By realigning leadership responsibilities, CEN aims to better leverage its resources and expertise to drive meaningful change and foster educational excellence.

    In expressing his enthusiasm for the transition, Dr. Kim Alexander stated, “As Founder and CEO of Collegiate Edu-Nation, I am blessed to play a role in this life-changing opportunity for rural communities in Texas and across the nation.  I invite you to join us in the P20 Movement, as there is opportunity for rural students everywhere we look. Our children are our future!”

    For more information about Collegiate Edu-Nation and its initiatives, please visit https://dev.edu-nation.org/.

     

  • ContinuousBetterment

    Most people think of their job as continuous work. Folks who are committed to excellence, however, think of their work as continuous improvement.

    ONLY when our work is that of service — making the world a better place — does that continuous march toward excellence yield the best versions of ourselves. Continuous improvement, constant betterment, and the pursuit of excellence can be undertaken regardless of job title.

    Getting better. Every day. On purpose.

    Yes, we can. And LEARNING is the vehicle that gets us there.

    *If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.

  • TSTC alums sign with Oncor during assembly at Throckmorton Collegiate ISD

    TSTC alums sign with Oncor during assembly at Throckmorton Collegiate ISD

  • Stuckedness

    Ever work in an organization that felt like it was “stuck?”

    Some of the best leaders I know interdict this state of stuckedness by engaging in the following strategic moves:

    • Make perfectly clear to all stakeholders — internal and external — WHY the organization exists and what it’s noble pursuits are.
    • Clearly define the roles of those in the organization. Everyone knows how they can, and are expected to, contribute.
    • Listen daily to team members up and down the food chain, to get their take on how those pursuits are going.
    • Model and insist upon continuous growth and improvement from everyone in the organization, beginning with the head honchos.
    Unstuck is a way better state than stuckedness. The leader moves described above make the folks who revel in stuckedness extremely uncomfortable. By design.
    Time to shift into four wheel drive…
    *If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning. 
  • Rural Renew Initiative: 2023 Rural Renewal Symposium

    Rural Renew Initiative: 2023 Rural Renewal Symposium

    Collegiate Edu-Nation
    The Rural Renewal Initiative began in 2019 and includes a team of diverse researchers and external partners committed to improving quality of life in rural Oklahoma communities and beyond through interdisciplinary research, student involvement and community engagement. The symposium is meant to foster collaboration among rural renewal scientists on issues facing rural communities while promoting related research. CEN team members enjoyed their time this year at the Symposium and gained incredible insight to share.
    “The Symposium brings people together across disciplines, and it is amazing to see what engineers, sociologists, health care professionals, economists and educators are doing in rural areas,” Andy Wilson, CEN Program Director shared. “I visited with a young lady from Ghana who commented that she never realized there were so many rural areas in the United States – since what they see in the media is often urban areas.  It’s a reminder that there are more rural communities than urban, and it will take a village of professionals to renew this great place in our society.”

    Collegiate Edu-Nation

    The Symposium provides incredible opportunities for leadership across industries to come together and share resources and ideas. Topics covered throughout the event include: Rural School-Community Partnerships, Agriculture and Rural Sustainability, Addressing Rural Educational Needs, The (un)changing Map of Rural Poverty: Identifying Enduring Poverty Areas for Rural Renewal, Rurality as Asset, Why Historic Main Streets Are Important for Rural Oklahoma, and more. Brittany Williams, CEN Director of Strategic Partnerships, argues the conversations between formal sessions were likewise extremely valuable.
    OSU Event“Social capital is to have good relationships with others who have access to valuable resources and insight to share,” Williams said. Altogether, the Symposium was an incredible event for attendees to hear new perspectives, gain insight on different aspects of rural communities, and fuel their passion for building prosperous communities through rural education.

  • Transmission

    Most of us have a license to drive vehicles. Virtually ALL vehicles have a transmission.

    What is a transmission (in simple terms)? It’s the part of the vehicle that takes the power generated from the engine and transfers that power to the wheels. Only then does movement take place.

    The best leaders I know serve as the “transmissions” of their organization: They take the power of the Vision and transmit it to the folks who can move that Vision toward reality.

    Power on!

    *If you’d like read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning. 

  • LeaderShift

    The best leaders I know pull a “switch” on the usual and customary conceptions of how leaders normally approach their work. They shift their behavior in some interesting “contradictory” ways:

    • They seek to serve more than to be served.
    • They purposefully listen more than they talk.
    • They consistently turn the spotlight toward others.
    • They ALWAYS exhibit kindness and respectfulness.
    • They genuinely care, and take the time to express it.
    • They stay focused on the long-term goals as opposed to short-term gains.
    All the above are learnable skills.
    Think I’ll take another look in the mirror…..
    *If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.

  • ExpertFog

    It is difficult to read an article these days that does not quote an “expert” or state something along the lines of “experts say.”

    Experts have never been in short supply, and they have always disagreed. Always will. As one of my favorite mentors says, “Everyone has an opinion; I prefer the informed ones.”

    Worth remembering is that we, and our team, are the experts within our unique contexts. To position our team to make the best possible decisions in a world/fog of confusing and conflicting data, and myriad mitigating variables, consider the following:

    • Add the smartest people we can find to be on our team.
    • Give everyone at the table voice in the conversations around the complex problems, and expect them to use those voices (banish quickly the “hiders” and “dodgers”).
    • Refuse to do nothing. Inertia and complacency are diseases to be eradicated.
    • Demand, embed, and incentivize betterment measures, every day.
    • Insist that continual LEARNING is an expected daily discipline.
    If it were easy, anyone could do it. Maybe even the “experts.”
    *If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.
  • One Health MOU signing in College Station

    One Health MOU signing in College Station

    Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) Announces Historic Partnership with Texas A&M University System to Tackle Rural One Health Crisis

    Signing[COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS] – Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) to establish the “One Health Initiative for Rural Texas.” This initiative aims to address the critical One Health Crisis in rural areas of Texas and create a sustainable solution through education and community development.

    The partnership brings together the expertise of CEN and the renowned TAMUS Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, and AgriLife Extension/Research. By leveraging the strengths of multiple institutions, the One Health Initiative seeks to build a highly educated rural workforce that will be equipped to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities. The event marking the official signing of Collegiate Edu-Nation and the Texas A&M University System will took place on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 in College Station, TX. 

    Collegiate Edu-Nation

    Key Objectives of the One Health Initiative:

    Highly Educated Rural Workforce: By combining the resources of CEN and TAMUS, the initiative aims to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education in One Health, fostering a workforce with the knowledge and skills to address the complex healthcare needs of rural areas.

    Job Creation and Community Restoration: The collaboration will contribute to the creation of high-wage and high-demand jobs in rural Texas. This, in turn, will lead to community restoration and economic development, revitalizing the local economies and enhancing the overall quality of life.

    Pathways for CEN Schools: CEN Schools will benefit from specific pathways created by this initiative, offering local students opportunities to contribute to their communities while pursuing fulfilling careers. More information about these pathways will be communicated directly to CEN Schools in the coming weeks.

    Dr. Kim Alexander, CEO of Collegiate Edu-Nation, expresses enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with the Texas A&M University System is a significant step toward addressing the One Health Crisis in rural Texas. Together, we are dedicated to providing education, fostering economic growth, and building a sustainable future for our communities.”

    Learn more about these collaborators:

    Collegiate Edu-Nation – edu-nation.org

    Texas A&M Rural Medicine- medicine.tamu.edu

    Texas A&M AgriLife – agrilife.tamu.edu

    For more information about the event and ongoing developments, please contact Rachael McClain, CEN Chief of Staff via email, rmcclain@edu-nation.org.

    CEN is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation based in Roscoe in West Texas that has member school districts located throughout rural Texas.   CEN plans to spread strategically across every region in Texas and work with students in rural West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  

    Collegiate Edu-Nation – edu-nation.org – is a proven strategy founded because of the belief in the potential of every single young person to achieve a life of choice and impact.  The core philosophy is “All means all.” Every student in each CEN district will have the same opportunity to match top opportunities for educational attainment and community development with the students’ high aspirations.

     

  • ReBeginAgain

    Life seems to have never moved so quickly. Our attention spans seem shorter, the news cycles are quicker, the information portals to which we have access spin like tops, our work tools appear to be on steroids. Good or bad or both, this warp-speed life is the reality with which we live.

    With that life-pace in mind, we are wise to continue (or revive) a commitment to begin anew each day. Regardless of the “speediness” of life, it does not and cannot add a single minute to the day.

    Some good reflective questions:

    Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing, to make the world a better place?

    Am I letting go of things that do not move me toward my higher purpose?

    Are my thoughts, words, and actions promoting love and acceptance to/for others?

    If the answer to any of these is “no,” perhaps we should tap the brakes…

    Today (and every day) is a good day to re-begin-again.

    *If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.