Dr Jon Turner
@jonsturner.bsky.social
Rural schools advocate and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Missouri State University. Opinions are my own. Reposts are not endorsements. Public schools unite our country.
25 years ago today. A true education governor. His leadership is missed.
October 17, 2025 at 3:36 AM
25 years ago today. A true education governor. His leadership is missed.
Happy 101st Heavenly Birthday, President Carter!
October 2, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Happy 101st Heavenly Birthday, President Carter!
Missouri's "school choice" program siphons millions from public schools through tax credits. 90 %+ of "scholarships" flow to KC, STL & SGF, only 0.2 % to students with disabilities. Rural and truly low‑income families see almost none of $. Learn more👉t.ly/NdPR0
September 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Missouri's "school choice" program siphons millions from public schools through tax credits. 90 %+ of "scholarships" flow to KC, STL & SGF, only 0.2 % to students with disabilities. Rural and truly low‑income families see almost none of $. Learn more👉t.ly/NdPR0
A fun reminder that @MoEducation rural kids hoping to graduate from high school had to head to town, where "board and room may be obtained at a reasonable rate." From the Cabool Enterprise 100 years ago today, Aug 27, 1925. @MASALeaders @MSTA @nrea1 @CaboolSchools
August 27, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A fun reminder that @MoEducation rural kids hoping to graduate from high school had to head to town, where "board and room may be obtained at a reasonable rate." From the Cabool Enterprise 100 years ago today, Aug 27, 1925. @MASALeaders @MSTA @nrea1 @CaboolSchools
Something to think about. In the 7-county Ozark Workforce Development area (around Springfield, Bolivar, Buffalo, Ozark, Nixa, Branson) more than 80% of workers in Christian, Dallas, and Stone counties work outside their home county. meric.mo.gov/media/pdf/oz...
August 24, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Something to think about. In the 7-county Ozark Workforce Development area (around Springfield, Bolivar, Buffalo, Ozark, Nixa, Branson) more than 80% of workers in Christian, Dallas, and Stone counties work outside their home county. meric.mo.gov/media/pdf/oz...
Something to think about. In the 7-county Ozark Workforce Development area (around Springfield, Bolivar, Buffalo, Ozark, Nixa, Branson) --Health Care and Social Assistance are the top employers. Of all workers in the area, 22.4% are 55 or older. meric.mo.gov/media/pdf/oz...
August 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Something to think about. In the 7-county Ozark Workforce Development area (around Springfield, Bolivar, Buffalo, Ozark, Nixa, Branson) --Health Care and Social Assistance are the top employers. Of all workers in the area, 22.4% are 55 or older. meric.mo.gov/media/pdf/oz...
When I watch or listen or read the news I find myself thinking of the last lines of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson.
August 23, 2025 at 6:12 PM
When I watch or listen or read the news I find myself thinking of the last lines of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson.
Happy to join Iowa Public Radio earlier this week for extended talk about the 4-day school week on the show "Talk of Iowa". Joined some great experts. @npaseka @NPRMidwestNews @uoeducation Take a listen 👉t.ly/v1oZx
August 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Happy to join Iowa Public Radio earlier this week for extended talk about the 4-day school week on the show "Talk of Iowa". Joined some great experts. @npaseka @NPRMidwestNews @uoeducation Take a listen 👉t.ly/v1oZx
Extremely proud to be part of @MissouriState team that started "Pathways for Paras", one of the largest K-12 school apprentice programs in the U.S. This year, we're in over 140 Missouri school districts, helping nearly 400 paras finish their Special Education degree while they continue to work! 👇
August 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Extremely proud to be part of @MissouriState team that started "Pathways for Paras", one of the largest K-12 school apprentice programs in the U.S. This year, we're in over 140 Missouri school districts, helping nearly 400 paras finish their Special Education degree while they continue to work! 👇
Arkansas teachers whose home is in another state. In 2024, Ark raised minimum teacher salary to $50k, while Missouri remained at $40k. Increase is statistically significant (p < 0.01), meaning it’s not due to chance. Higher pay is successfully attracting out-of-state teachers—especially from MO.
July 10, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Arkansas teachers whose home is in another state. In 2024, Ark raised minimum teacher salary to $50k, while Missouri remained at $40k. Increase is statistically significant (p < 0.01), meaning it’s not due to chance. Higher pay is successfully attracting out-of-state teachers—especially from MO.
Grateful for the values my public school education instilled in me. "Back in the day," pledging "with Liberty and Justice for all" was not controversial. I think most of us remember the "Liberty and Justice" part---it's the "for all" that has gotten wobbly.
June 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Grateful for the values my public school education instilled in me. "Back in the day," pledging "with Liberty and Justice for all" was not controversial. I think most of us remember the "Liberty and Justice" part---it's the "for all" that has gotten wobbly.
Even if Missouri rural voters split evenly between the Gubernatorial candidates in 2024 Democrats lose by large margins. Net gain (~252k votes) falls well short of the 605k margin in actual vote. To overcome deficit, Dems would need significant gains in suburban and urban regions—not just a rural.
June 9, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Even if Missouri rural voters split evenly between the Gubernatorial candidates in 2024 Democrats lose by large margins. Net gain (~252k votes) falls well short of the 605k margin in actual vote. To overcome deficit, Dems would need significant gains in suburban and urban regions—not just a rural.
Graph: Percent change in public high school graduate projections by race and ethnicity (Race and Ethnicity) buff.ly/K5Lfpx1
May 19, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Graph: Percent change in public high school graduate projections by race and ethnicity (Race and Ethnicity) buff.ly/K5Lfpx1
Cabool Schools graduating class of 2025! #Congrats! Photo at bottom shows graduates that went K-12 TOGETHER in Cabool. This community of education, knowing each other over many years, is what school consolidation crew in legislature don't understand about rural schools.
May 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Cabool Schools graduating class of 2025! #Congrats! Photo at bottom shows graduates that went K-12 TOGETHER in Cabool. This community of education, knowing each other over many years, is what school consolidation crew in legislature don't understand about rural schools.
Graph: Projected percent change in high school graduates, 2023 to 2041 (Geographic Location) buff.ly/XkC8Gp9
May 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Graph: Projected percent change in high school graduates, 2023 to 2041 (Geographic Location) buff.ly/XkC8Gp9
Happy Birthday President Truman. Born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884! "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” A graduate of Independence High School in 1901!-he’s on back row—can you find him?🇺🇸
May 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Happy Birthday President Truman. Born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884! "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” A graduate of Independence High School in 1901!-he’s on back row—can you find him?🇺🇸
#HappyTeacherAppreciationWeek Missouri legislators' salary=$41,070.14. Their session runs 5 months. Daily reimbursement=$132.80. Mileage reimbursement= 65.5 cents per mile. Minimum Missouri teacher salary=$40,000. Main #moleg topic this week, how much to cut public schools.
May 7, 2025 at 1:25 AM
#HappyTeacherAppreciationWeek Missouri legislators' salary=$41,070.14. Their session runs 5 months. Daily reimbursement=$132.80. Mileage reimbursement= 65.5 cents per mile. Minimum Missouri teacher salary=$40,000. Main #moleg topic this week, how much to cut public schools.
When you look at per-pupil expenditures, Missouri is 37th in the country in supporting our public school students. Response from some state legislators? "Let's cut $300 million from the state funding formula next year; that will help."
May 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
When you look at per-pupil expenditures, Missouri is 37th in the country in supporting our public school students. Response from some state legislators? "Let's cut $300 million from the state funding formula next year; that will help."
Illinois allocates $6,781 more per student than Missouri. Bordering districts along the Mississippi, like Cape Girardeau, could see significant benefits if they received the same kind of support as Illinois. What could Cape do with an additional $27 million for students and teachers?
May 2, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Illinois allocates $6,781 more per student than Missouri. Bordering districts along the Mississippi, like Cape Girardeau, could see significant benefits if they received the same kind of support as Illinois. What could Cape do with an additional $27 million for students and teachers?
U.S. Census Bureau's new report highlights school spending per student, showing Missouri ranks low in the Midwest, trailing states like Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Meanwhile, the Missouri House plans to cut the public school budget by $300 million next year. www.census.gov/library/visu....
May 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
U.S. Census Bureau's new report highlights school spending per student, showing Missouri ranks low in the Midwest, trailing states like Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Meanwhile, the Missouri House plans to cut the public school budget by $300 million next year. www.census.gov/library/visu....
New House Budget proposal will hurt some schools MUCH more than others. Place a check mark on the district you think will be impacted negatively by $300 million less going to public schools next year. Support Senate Budget package.
April 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
New House Budget proposal will hurt some schools MUCH more than others. Place a check mark on the district you think will be impacted negatively by $300 million less going to public schools next year. Support Senate Budget package.
Thank you Taylor Montana, a teacher from @NixaHighSchool, for presenting at the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration conference today in Columbia! Loved hearing about her @MissouriState research on teacher evaluation & feelings of efficacy. @nixaschools @MoStateCOE
April 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Thank you Taylor Montana, a teacher from @NixaHighSchool, for presenting at the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration conference today in Columbia! Loved hearing about her @MissouriState research on teacher evaluation & feelings of efficacy. @nixaschools @MoStateCOE
Thank you to Trenton Krueger, a teacher from @NixaJuniorHigh, for presenting at the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration conference today in Columbia! Loved hearing about his @MissouriState research on tiered intervention impact on learning. @nixaschools @MoStateCOE
April 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Thank you to Trenton Krueger, a teacher from @NixaJuniorHigh, for presenting at the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration conference today in Columbia! Loved hearing about his @MissouriState research on tiered intervention impact on learning. @nixaschools @MoStateCOE
France is a prominent example of a country where a four-day school week has been implemented on a large scale – specifically in public primary schools. For many years, French primary pupils have had no classes on Wednesdays, effectively giving them a four-day week.
April 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
France is a prominent example of a country where a four-day school week has been implemented on a large scale – specifically in public primary schools. For many years, French primary pupils have had no classes on Wednesdays, effectively giving them a four-day week.
A reminder. Public schools must operate at the direction of the US Supreme Court. Of the 9 members of the Supreme Court only 3 attended public schools.
April 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A reminder. Public schools must operate at the direction of the US Supreme Court. Of the 9 members of the Supreme Court only 3 attended public schools.