Educators Rising, the national career and technical student organization, is committed to amplifying student voice and provides opportunities for students to lead. As a national organization with over 21,000 members from middle school through college, we are focused on empowering the next generation to lead the future of learning, and by providing opportunities like the Educators Rising National Influencers program, we are doing just that.
We are proud to announce that after an open call period, four new student leaders have been selected to serve as “influencers” or ambassadors for the organization through June 2027. This year’s cohort brings strong talent in communication and leadership. Working closely with our national student officers, they will share news and stories of impact from across the organization on social media, our website, and the Rising Voices blog. They will also play a featured role at the 2027 Educators Rising National Conference in Columbus, Ohio, documenting the event through video, photography, and the written word.
The four students selected for the 2026-2027 school year include:
- Frankie Connolly (Massachusetts),
- Emmalee Grimm (Virginia),
- Kate Saxton (California), and
- Jaxon Tomlinson (Texas).
“Young people see and tell stories in ways adults often miss. That’s why we’re putting storytelling in their hands,” said Educators Rising CEO Jeanie Lee. “Our student influencers will bring fresh perspectives to the experiences of their peers across the country, showing how young people are finding belonging, discovering their potential, and leading the future of education.” Along the way, the influencers will connect with student leaders in every state to spotlight stories from each region of the country.
The National Influencers program replaces Educators Rising’s former ambassador program and gives students a more active role within the organization. Student influencers will work directly with staff, including Calvin Plante, Educators Rising’s student voice coordinator, who served as an Educators Rising national ambassador in high school.
Teachers and school leaders can join in by encouraging students to share their experiences and by connecting chapter successes with our influencers throughout the year. We can’t wait to see how this cohort inspires the next generation of educators.
For more information about the Educators Rising National Influencers program, contact Dr. John Hendron (e-mail), principal story architect for Educators Rising.
