PDK INTERNATIONAL HOSTS LARGEST CONFERENCE TO DATE FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING FUTURE EDUCATORS

Arlington, VA—July 22, 2024—PDK International recently hosted 3,300 attendees from across the nation at the 2024 Educators Rising National Conference in Washington, D.C., June 28-July 1. Educators Rising is a movement that enables middle and high school students to explore teaching in their schools. As a career and technical student organization (CTSO), Educators Rising offers coursework that prepares its more than 25,000 members for a future not only as a teacher but also in other education careers.

At the national conference, state-level award winners can compete in both team and individual competitive events and contests, including events such as Teacher Created Materials, Interactive Bulletin Board, and Project Visualize Service Project. This year’s competitive events included new Spanish-language competitions, such as Children’s Literature Pre-K. See our website for more details about the competitions, contests, and a complete listing of winners.

“As we see our movement grow across the country, it’s natural to see our national conference grow in tandem. Our passionate team comes together to try and offer attendees a magical experience that matches the energy and enthusiasm our students and their teachers have for public education,” said Dr. James Lane, chief executive officer of PDK International.

“Our conference this year demonstrates a growth rate of 32% over last year’s conference, bettering attendance growth from 2022 to 2023. Our movement is better poised today to empower communities that use our curriculum and programming to support their Grow Your Own efforts,” Lane added.

“More and more communities struggle to put a qualified teacher in every classroom year after year,” said Albert Chen, chief operating officer. “We are committed to being a partner to districts in every state to both raise awareness of career opportunities in education but also to help prepare students to be best prepared to pursue an education career after graduation.”

Grow Your Own efforts like Educators Rising attempt to counter the national teacher shortage by encouraging the development of talent within local communities. Districts then invite their graduates back with teaching contracts, following the successful completion of their teaching credentials and degrees.

While the conference is predominately attended by high schoolers, the conference included competitions for middle school and college students. Educators Rising values student voice and sponsors an annual delegate meeting where student delegates help shape the organization’s direction. At the 2024 meeting, students selected the theme for the 2025 conference to be held next June in Orlando, Florida, and discussed changes to the CTSO’s bylaws.

Inspiring guest speakers included Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year and Dr. Amy Loyd, an assistant secretary of education in the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education in the U.S. Department of Education. Students also had opportunities to learn from a national pool of experts through breakout sessions. Teachers who lead their local school programs participated in professional learning.

In addition, 55 students who have just graduated and will be pursuing study in education at a college or university in the fall participated in a National Signing Day Event, showcasing the power of our movement in creating rising educators.

The conference also presented an opportunity to recognize Educators Rising Champions, adults in students’ communities who’ve shown unwavering commitment to the organization. Champions honored included:

Teacher Leader Division
Valerie Koch
Concord Regional Technical Center, New Hampshire

School Leader Division
Maegan Schopper, assistant principal and pre-educator pathway supervisor
Alexandria Middle Magnet School, Louisiana

District Leader Division
Lori Bowen, director of educator development
Fayette County Public Schools, Kentucky

Higher Education Division
Carole Basile, dean of Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Arizona State University, Arizona

State Department Division
Karen Sher, director of teacher recruitment
California Department of Education

Partner Organization Division
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap, Educational Issues
AFT, Washington, D.C.

Partner Funder Division
W. K. Kellogg Foundation, headquartered in Michigan, New Mexico regional division

PDK Funder Division
Joni Cordell, PDK Senior Member, Idaho

The Erin Young Student Voice Empowerment Award
Vanessa Buttler
Cleburne High School (TX)

Student leaders play an active role in the conference, leading many events on stage. The new slate of national officers for 2024-25 at the conference. These students will have many responsibilities over the next year, including leading events at next year’s conference. The new officers are:

• Ms. Journey Harris (Cleburne, Texas), National President
• Mr. Char’Tyvious Edwards (Meridian, Mississippi), Vice President of Service
• Ms. Shae’Aunna Johnson (Many, Louisiana), Vice President of Communications
• Ms. Alexis Lieb (Gahanna, Ohio), Vice President of Engagement

The Awards Ceremony at the 2024 Educators Rising National Conference ends with naming a grand champion chapter. Smyrna High School (Delaware) earned the title for a second year.

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Established in 1906, PDK International supports P-20 educators, researchers, and policy makers by strengthening their commitment to the profession throughout the entire arc of their careers. We are committed to elevating the profession through the intersection of research and practice. Through our core values of community, leadership, service, optimism, and excellence, we encourage educators and stakeholders to elevate the discourse and change the narrative around teaching and learning to ensure that every student has a high-quality education. www.pdkintl.org

About Educators Rising
In 2015, PDK International – in its 115-year commitment to the profession of education – launched Educators Rising, formerly the Future Educators Association (FEA). Today, Educators Rising is cultivating a new generation of highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path from high school through college and into their teaching careers. By working with aspiring educators who reflect the demographics of their communities and who are passionate about serving those communities through public education, Educators Rising is changing the face of teaching. educatorsrising.org