Honoring the rich history of rural western Illinois, and examining the problems we currently face
"Rural towns may be losing population, but there’s a beauty of history there. If you take the time to look, there are hidden gems everywhere." Bob Chikos On this episode Host Joey Brewer visits with Bob Chikos—an educator, map enthusiast, and Teach Plus alum—who recently completed a remarkable personal quest: visiting all 102 counties in …
Continue reading "Every County in Illinois: One Teacher’s Journey Across the Prairie State"
"Play activates neural pathways—it helps children develop emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity." Lisa Hood, Director of Research & Evaluation at Regional Office of Education #17 On this episode Host Joey Brewer chats with Lisa Hood and Paul Larson to explore the impact of play-based learning. The conversation touches …
“Forgottonia’s story reminds us that small towns hold big ideas. When we trust students to lead, create, and connect, we don't just prepare them for the real world — we invite them to change it.” On This Episode What happens when students stop completing assignments for a grade and start creating work for the world? …
Continue reading "Classroom Sandboxing in Rural Forgottonia"
"Dialogue isn’t about changing opinions; it’s about understanding each other.” Jared Morris, Education Specialist & Instructional Coach, Office of the Undersecretary for Education, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. On This Episode We're excited to share a conversation led by two Beardstown High School freshmen, Vraj and Genesis, as they interview Jared Moris and Ali McKersie, the …
"Rural schools may lack big-city resources, but they have something just as powerful—strong community ties, flexibility to innovate, and educators who wear many hats to make learning meaningful." On This Episode We sit down with John Glasgow, Program Director of the Rural CTE Project (in partnership with The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools …
"Our job is to find out what the needs and barriers are around early childhood care and education… and help align goals so we’re all working on the same thing." Shannon McKee, Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 26 On This Episode We had the privilege of speaking with Paul Larson, …
"How we define rural is very personal and why we care about it is often for very personal reasons too." On This Episode We sit down with Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, a historian whose work brings the complex and often misunderstood story of rural America to life. Dr. Riney-Kehrberg helps us unpack two chapters from the …
Continue reading "Exploring Rural Identity and History with Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg"
“Once upon a time, Chicago and downstate belonged to the same economy…Factories downstate made things Chicago needed. That’s gone away. What’s replaced it in Chicago is the global economy. What economic vitality there is in Illinois is in Chicago. The economic fortunes of Chicago and downstate are diverging.” Richard C. Longworth, "Caught in the Middle: …
Continue reading "Illinois: A State Apart – Episode #4 – The State of Chicago (1925)"
"In Forgottonia, political concerns run deep and personal. They’re about survival, identity, and fairness. Whether it’s fixing roads, supporting farmers, or amplifying rural voices, these issues remind us why local perspectives matter in national debates." Objectives In this episode, we explore the unprecedented political shift in western Illinois, a region known as Forgottonia, where all …
Continue reading "Election Results in Forgottonia: Trump’s Unprecedented Appeal"
"Title IX wasn't just about athletics, it was about education. At that time, we had only a few female leaders. We needed a level playing field, everyone needed a fair shake." Robbi Ball Rhonda Garrett and Robbi Ball talk to CHS student athletes Kayleigh Harr (class of '24) and Kacie White (class of '27) On …
The Forgottonia Project 