--- title: BetterLesson Blog | Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships description: Stay up-to-date with the latest teaching strategies, trends, tactics and more in our comprehensive blog. Read the latest updates. --- - [Professional Development](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/) - [Instructional Leadership](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/instructional-leadership/) - [Inclusive and Responsive Practices](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/inclusive-and-responsive-practices/) - [Curriculum and Academic Content](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/curriculum-and-academic-content/) - [Flexible Instructional Models](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/flexible-instructional-models/) - [Student-Centered Teaching and Learning](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/student-centered-teaching) - [Learning Catalog](https://betterlesson.com/catalog/) - [Learning Experiences](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/) - [For Leaders](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-leaders) - [For Teachers](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-teachers) - [For Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-coaches) - 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[Flexible Instructional Models](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/flexible-instructional-models/) - [Student-Centered Teaching and Learning](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/student-centered-teaching) - [Learning Catalog](https://betterlesson.com/catalog/) - [Learning Experiences](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/) - [For Leaders](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-leaders) - [For Teachers](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-teachers) - [For Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-coaches) - [Meet Our Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/our-coaches) - [Workshops](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/workshops) - [Instructional Coaching](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/instructional-coaching) - [Executive Coaching](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/executive-coaching) - [Learning Walks](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/learning-walks) - [BL Lab](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/lab) - [Create Your Path](https://betterlesson.com/personalized-professional-development/) - [About Us](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/) - [Our Story and Team](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/) - [Careers](https://betterlesson.pinpointhq.com/) - [Our Impact](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/impact) - [Evidence & Research](https://info.betterlesson.com/evidence-and-research) - [Partnerships](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/partnerships) - [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion) - [Resources](https://blog.betterlesson.com/) - [BetterLesson Blog](https://blog.betterlesson.com/) - [K-12 PD Funding](https://info.betterlesson.com/k12-professional-development-funding) - [Instructional Strategies](https://teaching.betterlesson.com/search?types=strategy) - [Lesson Plans](https://teaching.betterlesson.com/browse/master_teachers/projects) - [Let's Connect](https://info.betterlesson.com/contact-us) Featured Post # Choosing Your Path to Education Leadership The need for effective teacher leaders is ongoing and urgent in K-12 schools. Each teacher lends their expertise and talent to the overall welfare of\[...\] [Read Featured Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/education-leadership-path) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships ![Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/c821d05fb68928268af35dab841be722) ### Recent Posts [![Multiethnic group of young business people using laptop sitting on meeting in conference hall](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Multiethnic%20group%20of%20young%20business%20people%20using%20laptop%20sitting%20on%20meeting%20in%20conference%20hall.jpeg?width=900&name=Multiethnic%20group%20of%20young%20business%20people%20using%20laptop%20sitting%20on%20meeting%20in%20conference%20hall.jpeg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/webinar-the-support-that-keeps-rural-teachers-in-the-classroom) ## [The Support that Keeps Rural Teachers in the Classroom](https://blog.betterlesson.com/webinar-the-support-that-keeps-rural-teachers-in-the-classroom) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published January 08, 2019 Retaining highly effective teachers is both a challenge and a goal for rural school and district leaders. Research points to one key factor that\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/webinar-the-support-that-keeps-rural-teachers-in-the-classroom) [![IMG_6736](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_6736.jpg?width=900&name=IMG_6736.jpg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/how-to-maximize-and-limit-coach-effectiveness) ## [How to Maximize (and Limit) Coach Effectiveness](https://blog.betterlesson.com/how-to-maximize-and-limit-coach-effectiveness) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published September 11, 2018 In an Edweek blog post, Dr. Peter Dewitt, the author of several books on school leadership, asked if instructional coaching has become a dumping\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/how-to-maximize-and-limit-coach-effectiveness) [![Teacher and pupils working at desk together at the elementary school-4](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Teacher%20and%20pupils%20working%20at%20desk%20together%20at%20the%20elementary%20school-4.jpeg?width=900&name=Teacher%20and%20pupils%20working%20at%20desk%20together%20at%20the%20elementary%20school-4.jpeg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/four-indicators-of-strong-instructional-coaching) ## [Four Indicators of Strong Instructional Coaching](https://blog.betterlesson.com/four-indicators-of-strong-instructional-coaching) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published August 09, 2018 Effective instructional coaching is the kind of sustained, collaborative, classroom-aligned professional learning that creates tangible outcomes in\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/four-indicators-of-strong-instructional-coaching) [![Unposed group of creative business people in an open concept office brainstorming their next project.](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Unposed%20group%20of%20creative%20business%20people%20in%20an%20open%20concept%20office%20brainstorming%20their%20next%20project..jpeg?width=900&name=Unposed%20group%20of%20creative%20business%20people%20in%20an%20open%20concept%20office%20brainstorming%20their%20next%20project..jpeg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/three-factors-that-make-or-break-instructional-coaching) ## [Three Factors that Make or Break Instructional Coaching](https://blog.betterlesson.com/three-factors-that-make-or-break-instructional-coaching) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published July 03, 2018 “Reforms are not self-implementing,” say researchers from The Education Alliance at Brown University. “Nor do they penetrate predictably or\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/three-factors-that-make-or-break-instructional-coaching) [![Is Technology the Key to Keeping Rural Educators](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Is%20Technology%20the%20Key%20to%20Keeping%20Rural%20Educators.jpg?width=900&name=Is%20Technology%20the%20Key%20to%20Keeping%20Rural%20Educators.jpg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/06/technology-key-keeping-rural-educators) ## [Is Technology the Key to Keeping Rural Educators?](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/06/technology-key-keeping-rural-educators) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published March 06, 2018 Rural school districts have come to a crossroads. Recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers remains a persistent challenge and even a crisis\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/06/technology-key-keeping-rural-educators) [![The Six Downfalls of Traditional Professional Development](https://blog.betterlesson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Six%20Downfalls%20of%20Traditional%20Professional%20Development.jpg?width=900&name=The%20Six%20Downfalls%20of%20Traditional%20Professional%20Development.jpg)](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/01/23/six-downfalls-traditional-professional-development) ## [The Six Downfalls of Traditional Professional Development](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/01/23/six-downfalls-traditional-professional-development) by [Katya Rucker, BetterLesson Director of Rural Partnerships](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships) Published January 23, 2018 Out of every mode of support we pour into students, high quality instruction has proven to have the greatest impact on their achievement. The buck\[...\] [Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/01/23/six-downfalls-traditional-professional-development) Page 1 of 1 [1](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/katya-rucker-betterlesson-director-of-rural-partnerships/page/1) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Recent Posts [Tweets by BetterLesson](https://twitter.com/BetterLesson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ###### MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ## Subscribe to The Learning Curve **BetterLesson** Professional Learning Connected - - - - Professional Development - [Instructional Leadership](https://betterlesson.com/element-instructional-leadership) - [Inclusive and Responsive Practices](https://betterlesson.com/element-inclusive-and-responsive-practices) - [Flexible Instructional Models](https://betterlesson.com/element-flexible-instructional-models) - [Curriculum and Academic Content](https://betterlesson.com/element-curriculum-and-academic-content) - [Student-Centered Teaching and Learning](https://betterlesson.com/four-elements-of-student-centered-teaching-and-learning) - [The BL Lab](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/lab) - Learning Experiences - [PD for Leaders](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-leaders) - [PD for Teachers](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-teachers) - [PD for Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-coaches) - [Workshops](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/workshops) - [Instructional Coaching](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/instructional-coaching) - [Learning Walks](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/learning-walks) - [Meet Our Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/our-coaches) - [Create Your Path](https://betterlesson.com/personalized-professional-development/) - About Us - [Our Story](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/) - [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion) - [Our Impact](https://betterlesson.com/about-us/impact) - [Careers](https://betterlesson.com/careers/) - Resources - [BetterLesson Blog](https://blog.betterlesson.com/) - [Instructional Strategies](https://teaching.betterlesson.com/browse/strategies) - [Lesson Plans](https://teaching.betterlesson.com/browse/master_teachers/projects) - Support & Contact - [Help Center](https://betterlesson.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/group/4) - [Login to the BL Lab](https://lab.betterlesson.com/login) - [Contact Us](https://info.betterlesson.com/contact-us) - [Privacy](https://betterlesson.com/privacy-policy/) - [Legal](https://betterlesson.com/terms/) © 2018 BetterLesson. 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