The Educators Rising conference got off to a rousing start Friday night with the opening general session. The crowd of more than 3,000 students—a record number of conference attendees—filled the main ballroom, with more joining from an overflow room
James Lane, CEO of Educators Rising and PDK International welcomed the crowd and expressed excitement about being at his first-ever Educators Rising National Conference.
He congratulated the students for the achievements that brought them to the conference and encouraged them to imagine a world full of great educators who could be a powerful influence on the future. “We need you more than ever,” he said as he reflected on his career as a superintendent, and the declining number of applicants he saw for teaching positions over the years.
He then asked students to send a text to someone who made an impact on them. As teachers, they’ll be able to make the same kind of difference to their students. Great teachers make a difference, Lane said, sharing with students his philosophy of academic optimism — or the belief that you’ll make a difference. If you believe that you’ll make a difference, then you will. Great teachers who believe in their students’ ability to succeed will help those students succeed.
For Lane, his band director made a difference, encouraging him because he had a knack for helping other trumpet players in his section. Lane became a band director, and a lot of his former students are now band directors.
Following Lane’s remarks, Melissa Nixon from PDK board welcomed students and thanked the National Education Association, platinum sponsor of the conference, for their support, and introduced a video in which Princess Moss, NEA vice president, shared encouraging words of support. Nixon then turned the event over to the Educators Rising National Student Officers.
- President Milan Aranda, Northwest Missouri State University, Omaha, Nebraska.
- Vice President of Communications Brooke Hess, Sheboygan High School, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
- Vice President of Engagement Hailey Calderon, Lafayette County High School, Stamps, Arkansas.
- Vice President of Service Taylor Jenkins, University of Delaware, Seaford, Delaware.
The officers led the conference attendees in a quick game of human bingo. The ballroom filled with activity as hundreds of students moved around to fill out their bingo card with the initials of attendees who had been to D.C. before, who love to read, who come from a different state, who want to be a special ed teacher, and more.
Albert Chen, COO of Educators Rising, then introduced one of the stars of the weekend — Eddy Bear! One of the most popular Educators Rising traditions is for Eddy Bear to spend each day of the conference with a different group of students. The Susan G Gibson Science and Technology Center earned the honor of taking Eddy with them on Saturday. But this year, students were treated to a special appearance of a giant Eddy, who will be wandering the halls throughout the conference to greet students and have photo ops!
The energy in the room stayed high as the officers led attendees in another EdRising tradition—the state roll call. Students’ shouts filled the room as they cheered for their state.
Milan Aranda then shared her personal story of what led her to become a teacher. Milan had 46 teachers by the time she finished high school and only two were Latinx like her, she said. “I always felt like the odd one out.” Those two teachers helped her feel connected. They made her want to come to school and to feel like she belonged. “I want to be the reason my students come to school each day,” she said. She was also inspired by her dad, a high school principal. She was in awe of how his students respected him.
She began to see a bit of her own future when she helped in a 3rd grade classroom, and a student said to her, “Miss, you’re Spanish, too!” Her story is an example of the power of having a teacher who looks like you.
