Inaugural Class of R31 Academy
The Inaugural Class of the R31 Citizens’ Academy
In September of 2025, the Rolla School District launched its first-ever Citizens’ Academy. Designed to engage and inform citizens through presentations, tours, and activities, the Academy spanned 9 months and delivered hours of content to the participants. Registration opened in September 2025 to the general public, capping enrollment at 30 community members. The inaugural group consisted of parents, grandparents, business owners, elected officials, and community leaders interested in connecting more deeply with their local schools. Academy participants were asked to commit to a two-hour meeting once a month, diving into specific topics across the district at each session. Topics included safety & security, buildings & operations, special services, mental health & counseling, district finance, and more. Facility tours were built into most of the sessions, giving the Academy opportunities to learn about various buildings and spaces throughout the district.
The program drew to a close on Wednesday, May 13th, as participants gathered for a final Q&A session and celebrated their year of commitment. One Academy graduate remarked on the experience, “Everything was informative. If you had a question, they [district administration] had an answer. The follow-up from every session was great. I’m honored to be one of the first graduates of this program.” Another commented, “I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more about how their school district works to sign up.”
Dr. Kyle Dare, R31 Superintendent, had high praise for the Academy participants. “We appreciate the commitment these folks made to learning about the district’s inner workings. They chose to spend two hours with us each month to build a stronger connection with their schools on top of all the obligations in their busy lives. It’s a big deal.” Communications Director, Gina Zervos, echoed the sentiment. “It’s been fantastic to be able to highlight our exceptional leadership team and their hard work, and to hear feedback from the Academy. The program has provided us with insight into what questions are on the minds of our stakeholders.”
Interested in participating in the next R31 Academy? Registration for 2026-27 will open on June 15th. Look for a link on district social media and at rolla31.org/r31 academy. Email communications@rolla31.org with questions about the academy.