03/02/2026 | News release | Archived content
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education will host its fourth annual Rural Education Conference and Rural Schools Job Fair on Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Velzy Commons at Ullsvik Hall. This year's keynote address will be presented by members of the Crase family, a multigenerational family of educators with ties to southwest Wisconsin schools.
Jake Crase serves as principal of Platteville High School. His wife, McKenzie Crase, is a third grade teacher at Westview Elementary School in Platteville. Jake's sister, Emily Zachary, teaches English at Platteville High School, and his sister, Carrie Schmidt, teaches art in Deerfield. Their father, Jeff Crase, taught social studies and later served as dean of students in Belmont before retiring. He currently substitute teaches in Platteville. Collectively, the Crase family brings decades of experience and a shared commitment to rural education.
The conference will also feature a student poster session from 1-2 p.m., where UW-Platteville School of Education students will showcase their projects, field experiences, research and innovative ideas related to the field of education.
The Rural Schools Job Fair will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. Administrators from rural schools will have the opportunity to connect with students about upcoming vacancies, student teaching, substitute teaching and summer school teaching positions.
For questions or more information about this event, please contact Michelle Erickson, UW-Platteville School of Education Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, at 608.342.7162 or [email protected].