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Owusu-Ansah stands with WIU Education Professor Jim LaPrad.
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Western Illinois University alumna Ruth Owusu-Ansah, a special education teacher at Bushnell-Prairie City High School and a graduate of WIU's Organization, Leadership and Education (OJEI) doctoral program.
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Owusu-Ansah sits on a panel alongside other educators.
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WIU Alumna Represents Illinois at National Rural Education Summit

July 21, 2026

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University alumna ('25) Ruth Owusu-Ansah, of Macomb, IL, a special education teacher at Bushnell-Prairie City High School and graduate of WIU's Organization, Leadership and Education (OJEI) doctoral program, recently represented Illinois at the Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC) 2026 Rural Education Summit in Madison, WI.

Owusu-Ansah was one of 10 educators selected to participate in the RSC Teacher Panel and one of four presenters invited to share her story and the impact of her Grants in Place Mini Store project during the summit.

Her presentation, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship through Math, highlighted how a student-run mini store provides authentic, hands-on learning experiences that help high school special education students strengthen mathematical understanding while building financial literacy and career readiness skills.

The summit brought together approximately 72 participants representing K-12 schools, higher education institutions and educational organizations from across the country to exchange ideas and share promising practices in rural education.

"We had the opportunity to learn from one another, share promising practices and deepen our collective commitment to rural education," WIU Education Professor Jim LaPrad said. "We so appreciate that Ruth Owusu-Ansah from Bushnell-Prairie City High School was able to represent WIU and her school district, contribute her perspective and engage with colleagues from across the country."

Owusu-Ansah served as a panelist during the "Resilience in Place: Classroom Teacher Panel," joining educators from Wisconsin, Iowa and Oregon to discuss experiences and strategies for supporting rural education.

During the summit, Owusu-Ansah also participated in an interview with the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) as part of its teacher storytelling initiative, where she discussed the impact of her classroom project and its emphasis on real-world learning.

"I was honored to be one of 10 awardees selected to participate in the RSC Teacher Panel," Owusu-Ansah said. "It was a rewarding opportunity to showcase how real-world learning can empower high school special education students by strengthening their mathematical understanding, financial literacy and career readiness skills. The experience was both inspiring and affirming and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my school, share my students' successes and contribute to a broader conversation about innovative teaching practices."

Owusu-Ansah's participation highlights the continued impact of WIU graduates in rural education and showcases the innovative work taking place in local school districts on a national stage.

For more information on WIU's Education programs, visit wiu.edu/Education.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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