Regional Office of Education #26 is congratulating Spoon River Valley CUSD #4 teacher Jennifer Burdette on being named the 2026 National Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association (NREA), a prestigious honor recognizing her leadership, dedication to students and commitment to rural education.
NREA announced the national award Aug. 26 after its foundation interviewed candidates from across the country, focusing on educators whose work has a significant impact on rural communities. Burdette, a high school social studies teacher in London Mills, has spent more than a decade in education and has served as a mentor, instructional leader and advocate for rural students.
“This is an incredible and well-deserved honor for Jennifer, Spoon River Valley and all of west-central Illinois,” ROE26 Regional Superintendent Dave Demler said. “We know every day that outstanding education is happening in our rural and small schools, and Jennifer’s recognition on the national stage is a powerful example. I could not be prouder to see a teacher from our region receive this honor.”
Burdette said her work is rooted in showing rural students that where they come from does not determine how far they can go.
“I strive to serve as a model for my students in both character and leadership while also showing them what it looks like to dream big and work to achieve those goals,” Burdette said. “I want all of my students to understand that geography does not have to be limiting and people in small communities do have a national impact.”
Spoon River Valley Principal Jody Collier praised Burdette’s impact.
“When I think of Jennifer Burdette, I think of an outstanding leader in our district,” Collier said. “I am honored to be able to say a few words congratulating Jennifer on this award. I truly can not think of an individual that would be more deserving. Congratulations Jen, your hard work and dedication makes a difference in the lives of so many.”
Burdette first earned statewide recognition through the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS), which launched its Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year program in 2025. AIRSS selected Burdette as only the second recipient of the award before advancing her for national consideration.
“I am excited that in just our second year of the Illinois Rural Teacher of the Year program we are now in the national spotlight,” AIRSS Executive Director David Ardrey said. “It is a testament to the high quality and caliber of our educators in Illinois. This is an affirmation of the dedication, work and commitment our Illinois rural educators make every day in the classroom, the community and the lives of children. Congratulations to Jennifer Burdette on this wonderful award.”
Demler said the honor also reflects the importance of partnerships that strengthen rural education.
“ROE26 is proud of our strong partnership with AIRSS and NREA to support educators like Jennifer who strive every day to provide excellence in education here in west-central Illinois, across our state and across the country,” Demler said. “Our work with AIRSS, including the Rural CTE Project, is about expanding opportunities for rural students and supporting the educators and schools that make those opportunities possible. Jennifer represents exactly why that mission matters.”
Burdette will receive the national award in October at the 2026 National Forum to Advance Rural Education in San Antonio, where she will deliver a keynote address and represent her school and Illinois before hundreds of rural education advocates.
For more on the NREA award and Burdette’s nomination, visit: https://airssedu.org/post/jennifer-burdette-national-toy-2026/.
The Regional Office of Education #26 serves school districts across Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, and Schuyler counties, providing leadership, services, and support for schools, educators, and families throughout the region. For more information, visit www.roe26.net.
***Courtesy of the Regional Office of Education #26***
