PULLMAN, Wash. — Don Cox, who retired in June as superintendent of schools in Colfax, Washington, is now the director of the Rural Education Center housed at Washington State University’s College of Education.
Cox, who received his doctorate in 1990 from WSU, retired after 34 years in Washington education, much of that time in rural districts. Cox was a member of the Rural Education Center’s board of directors from 1990 to 1998.
“As superintendent of a rural district, I discovered the Rural Education Center provides invaluable networking opportunities, giving to administrators, who are isolated geographically, sources for help and resources when they need them,” Cox said.
As the director, Cox explains that he works with rural school administrators to negotiate issues with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to represent their concerns and needs to the state legislature, and to search for the solutions to any of their problems.
“I guarantee to rural school districts that this is one organization that is clearly in their corner,” Cox said.
The center’s membership consists of 34 of Washington’s 56 small rural school districts. The number of pupils in the member districts ranges from 25 at Shaw Island School District to 2,000 at Colville. The center is governed by a separate board of directors, and housed and supported by the WSU College of Education.
Cox encourages interested school administrators to request a copy of the monthly newsletter or contact the center at WSU, P.O. Box 642114; Pullman WA 99164-2114; or by telephone at 509/335-8118; or by e-mail at pshelden@wsu.edu.
bl135-98
