Emerging Leadership in Rural Education Research: In the Schoolhouse and the Academy

In this chapter, I share my personal experiences of transitioning from a leadership role in a small, rural Australian school to an early career leader in rural education research. I unpack how my strong connections to rural places in both Australia and the USA influenced my responses to challenges I faced while establishing my leadership from the context of an urban university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a self-study approach, I reflected on critical incidents that defined my leadership in the schoolhouse and academia, identifying challenges related to my rural identity and a lack of awareness of existing relationships in the field. Drawing on my experiences, I propose strategies for building confidence to lead in rural academia by leveraging skills developed in the schoolhouse. I argue that creating a community of collaborators and embracing one's rurality and are essential for success in rural education research leadership.