Recognizing EdRising education champions

Posted on June 30, 2024

Filed as: 2024 Conference Daily

The membership recognition lunch on Friday during the Educators Rising conference in Washington, D.C., was a time to celebrate those who’ve made special contributions to the work of Educators Rising.

The Educators Rising National Student Officers introduced the 2023-24 Educators Rising Champions. They are the adults in students’ communities who continually support the organization. There are many award-worthy Educators rising supporters, but these champions rise to the top with their unwavering commitment to students, the community, and beyond.

The awardees were:

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
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)

The national officers also recognized state officers, state regional coordinators, delegates, and Emerging Leader and Distinguished Educator fellows.

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