ATC teacher development manager Nneka Love (ATC ’19) and alumna Ava Hollins-Rogers (ATC ’20) traveled to New Mexico on July 15-19 as part of the Teach For America Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA). During this week-long kick-off, participants visited the Puye Cliff Dwellings outside of Sante Fe, NM and toured the Kha’p’o Community School in Española, NM. They also attended sessions on leading with presence, building and developing school culture, learning from rural schools, and the history of place.

RSLA is a fully sponsored fellowship for current and aspiring school leaders working in rural communities. RSLA participants engage with a supportive and inspirational cohort of leaders from across the country to deepen the skills necessary to amplify and sustain their work in rural education. Cohort members will travel to North Carolina later this year for another rural school community visit, in addition to on-going virtual learning throughout the year.