𝟏𝟑𝟓 | 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In this episode of The Rural Scoop, Dr. Melissa Sadorf is joined by Dr. Jason Cummins, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Montana State University and former rural and Indigenous school leader. Together, they explore why culture, language, identity, and wellness are not “add-ons” in rural schools—but the operating system that shapes everything from leadership decisions to student belonging. Dr. Cummins shares his journey from serving in Indigenous and rural schools to preparing the next generation of school leaders. He unpacks the historical context of schooling for Indigenous communities, the lasting impact of colonization on education systems, and the importance of asset-based, humanizing approaches to leadership and discipline. The conversation also dives into Humanized Education, the framework he co-authored that blends mastery-based, growth-based, and strength-based learning into a practical, research-driven model. This episode offers powerful insights and concrete practices for rural leaders who want to design schools where students see themselves, feel valued, and are prepared to live meaningful, connected lives in their communities. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬: 00:00 Introduction to the Rural Scoop 00:50 Meet Dr. Jason Cummings 02:24 The Importance of Community and Education 04:58 Challenges and Perspectives in Rural Education 07:25 Jason's Journey in Education 11:55 Historical Context of Native American Education 19:48 Decolonizing Leadership in Schools 27:25 Misinformed Views on Native Education 28:14 Decolonizing School Leadership 28:29 Funding Sources for Native Education 30:21 Importance of Indigenous Voices in Schools 31:24 Language and Cultural Sensitivity in Education 33:21 Introducing Humanized Education 34:51 Framework of Humanized Education 38:45 Cultural Responsiveness and Discipline 42:20 Preparing Future Educational Leaders 47:44 Commitment and Cultural Humility in Leadership 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: This conversation reminds us that effective rural leadership starts with seeing students and communities as whole, capable, and deeply connected to place. Dr. Jason Cummins challenges educators to move beyond compliance, deficit thinking, and one-size-fits-all systems—and instead lead with humility, cultural awareness, and purpose. When schools honor language, identity, and community knowledge, they become places of belonging rather than extraction. As Dr. Cummins makes clear, humanizing education isn’t about lowering expectations—it’s about designing systems where students can truly thrive. For rural leaders, the work begins by listening, learning, and leading alongside the communities they serve. 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: © 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved. The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles. For permission requests, please contact: Dr. Melissa Sadorf Email: [email protected] Phone: (520) 266-0081