After a busy day of arrivals, check-ins, and competition, the energy was high in the room as all the Educators Rising conference attendees came together for the first time Thursday night for the opening general session. Students entered the room singing, shouting, and dancing, excited to get the conference officially underway.

Albert Chen, acting CEO of PDK International, welcomed the attendees, gave a shout-out to the PDK staff who put the conference together and to the students who were making a commitment to teaching. Acknowledging public education is the cornerstone of democracy, he led the students to declare their intention for the future by shouting out:

“I was meant to be more!

“I am a role model!

“I am a teacher for the future of America!

“And I am amazing!”

Angela Walmsley, representing the PDK board, thanked the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest professional organization, for their support of the conference. She introduced Noel Candelaria, NEA secretary-treasurer, who told students in his opening remarks. “The title of teacher is one that I’ve always been proud of.”

He shared how as a young student he was supported by his community and his teachers and how their example led him to become a special education teacher in El Paso. “I loved the classroom, and I loved never knowing what surprises my students had in store for me that day. My students taught me more than I ever taught them.”

He acknowledged that teachers often feel underpaid, underappreciated, and under attack. But, he said, “You deserve to hear some of the good stuff that some of us veterans forget to mention: How rewarding it is to be an educator, the importance of our work, and how it makes a crucial difference in the lives of our students.” He encouraged students to look ahead: “You are going into the greatest profession in the world, and I want to thank you for going into the most important and noble profession without which there would be no other professions.”

Getting involved in Educators Rising is an important piece of teacher preparation, he said, because teachers need to network and find support. “Isolation has done in more new educators than bad coffee in the teachers’ lounge.” He shared how NEA also is part of their professional network and their anchor in the storm. The organization is trying to make education and the teaching profession more accessible and to fight for racial and social justice. “Our students need to feel valued and accepted for who they are,” he said, as students cheered in response.

Noting that NEA supports the re-election of President Joe Biden, he urged students to pay attention to upcoming elections and doing what they can to help elect candidates who support public education.

Walmsley then introduced the 2022-23 national student officers: President Torrey McClain, Vice-President of Engagement and Programs Mary Kate Gebhart, Vice-President of Communications Katelen Bennett, and Vice President of Service Keiren Minter. The student officers served as masters of ceremonies for the remainder of the conference’s general sessions. McClain then shared the conference call and response for the weekend, and students shouted along, to a rousing chorus of

“Ed

RISING

“Ed

RISING

“Who will we serve?

OUR COMMUNITY”

The room erupted into activity as students took part in a conference-wide Rock, Paper, Scissors, tournament icebreaker, with a goal of crowning a conference champion. And Bennett led the room in the traditional Educators Rising roll call of states, as students shared their state spirit. After additional series of thank yous to judges, sponsors, PDK staff, and other opening remarks, the conference was off to an invigorating start.