This 60-minute webinar from the 21 CSLA at the University of California, Berkeley explores opportunities for leading for equity in California’s rural school systems. It introduces the Center for Innovative Rural Collaboration for Leadership in Education (CIRCLE) and its Rural Innovative School Leadership Networked Improvement Community (RISL_NIC), which unites leaders to address context-specific challenges and highlight "bright spots"—effective practices that improve outcomes for marginalized students. Bright spots share key traits: cultural humility, belief in all students’ success, community integration, and commitment to systemic change. Panelists emphasize that rural leaders must address complex challenges with limited resources, highlighting the importance of local partnerships, data-driven decisions, and frameworks like multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). This webinar offers practical, equity-driven strategies for rural school leaders, policymakers, and teachers working to create sustainable improvements in diverse, under-resourced communities.