Contributed by Lexi Lieb
The “teacher voice” is a powerful tool. It commands respect in the classroom and helps educators advocate for their students and the profession.
My experiences as an aspiring educator have certainly impacted my teacher voice. Through my high school’s teaching professions program and my participation in Educators Rising, I gained real, hands-on experience in classrooms with professional educators. I had opportunities to work one-on-one with students, create and teach lessons, and experience exactly what it is like to be a teacher, day after day.
My teacher in that program, Mrs. Hilderbrand, cared deeply about us and encouraged us to take charge of our own learning. She often told us to “figure it out!” I didn’t always understand why she did that, but when I entered classrooms as an intern, I was expected to figure many things out on my own. That’s when I realized Mrs. Hilderbrand gave us guidance while also giving us opportunities to learn to do things on our own. She provided a safe space for us to attempt things independently, so we would be prepared to do them in our observation classrooms.
The skills I built through this process are why I feel so confident in the classroom. Like Mrs. Hilderbrand, I want to be a lighthouse of guidance for my students, but ultimately prepare them to do things on their own, confidently. I have learned from watching and working with many different educators in different kinds of classrooms. As I observed these teachers, I learned how to be assertive but caring—serious but genuine.
My experiences have increased my confidence as an aspiring educator and as an individual. They have also allowed me to develop my own teacher voice and become self-assured in my chosen career path.
I feel very committed to my future in education. I know what subjects and age groups I want to teach (middle school social studies and English). And I know exactly what to do when I enter the classroom as an intern or as a student teacher. This knowledge has been very beneficial to me as a college student, as I had to pick the subject I wanted to teach before doing my student teaching. I feel good about my decision because I had the chance to spend time exploring so many classrooms in high school.
Serving as a student officer in Educators Rising allows me to use my teacher voice in another sense. I’ve had a platform to share many issues that I face in today’s classrooms, both as a student and an educator. I’ve loved learning about the experiences of other students and teachers in other parts of the country. I’ve also been inspired by the stories shared by teacher-of-the-year award winners at Educators Rising conferences. It’s so motivating to hear from people who have worked in classrooms for many years and still feel so committed to their career. Earlier this year, the national student officer team had the opportunity to meet U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. He discussed many issues in education, including how our voice and passion as young Educators Rising students could change the face of education.
All of these experiences have impacted my growth as an aspiring educator. I will continue to use my teacher voice to advocate for the profession and share all the great things that come from education. I feel excited to enter my own classroom one day and use my teacher voice to advocate for my students and other educators.
Lexi Lieb is a national student officer for Educators Rising, serving as the 2024-25 vice president of engagement. She is studying to be a teacher at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Lieb hopes to teach middle school social studies and English and is interested in becoming a principal.
