On May 6, 2025, known to many as National Teacher Appreciation Day and this year, as our Educators Rising National Signing Day, we also celebrated our tenth anniversary as Educators Rising. We held a reception at the Rayburn Building adjacent to the U.S. Capitol, with guests including Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), and staff from Representative Jennifer McClellan’s office (D-VA). In addition to hearing from our chief executive, Dr. James Lane, guests heard from national vice president of engagement, Lexi Lieb (OH), PDK International’s board chairperson Katharine Oliver, and PDK International’s board chair-elect, Deb Delisle. Other guests included strategic partners, students, and Educators Rising friends.

Resolution 267, Recognizing the Tenth Anniversary of Educators Rising, was sponsored by Rep. Ramirez and co-sponsored so far by 17 other members of the House. The text of the resolution outlines the importance of Grow Your Own solutions at helping empower districts to bring high quality educators into their schools.

Delia Ramirez presents the House Resolution to Lexi Lieb, National VP of Engagement

With ten years behind the organization, it’s time to reflect upon what impact we have had and into which directions we can grow. Our career and technical student organization exposes thousands of students annually to the world of public education, with them learning, ultimately, that “there’s power in teaching.” Educators Rising has been successful at helping districts both large and small develop their future educators through Educators Rising chapters as a Grow Your Own solution.

One of the ways we measure our impact is through participation in our National Signing Day. Over 1,200 schools were invited to participate by providing a space to celebrate their seniors’ commitment to majoring in education next year at a college or university. Educators Rising is committed to working with districts such as Fayette County Kentucky’s public schools, where this year their district celebrated that fifty-two students participated in their signing day ceremony. This summer at our National Conference in Orlando, we’ll be celebrating yet again with a conference signing day, again celebrating those students who, after participating in our program in high school, have made a decision to make a difference in the field of education.

This past January, Dr. James Lane was joined by our national student president, Ms. Journey Harris, who currently is pursuing an education degree after graduating from high school in Texas, at a NASDTEC convening focused on student apprenticeships. In the video clip below, she shares her “Educators Rising moment,” detailing the experience she had in deciding she wanted to pursue a career in teaching. She speaks of the power of CTSOs in cultivating student interest, their importance, and that even when teachers may discourage their students from pursuing a career in education, there are students, like her, who are “screaming from the rooftops” that this is the fit for them. We thought her message was appropriate in showcasing the continuing impact of Educators Rising and the teacher leaders who are working tirelessly in over twelve-hundred schools nationally to help students explore the field of teaching.

We want to thank all of our partners, the PDK Board of Directors, staff, our SRCs, and most especially, our teacher leaders for making Educators Rising what it is. It truly is something to celebrate! Working together to make an impact on the next generation is inspiring work. And best of all, our students are coming to understand that through their experience in Educators Rising.

PDK International Staff and Friends