It’s time to start prepping! State-level Educators Rising conferences are fast approaching and offer authentic opportunities to stretch your skills through competitions and contests. Students who compete at the state level gain important professional experience and could earn the chance to compete at the 2024 Educators Rising National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Two Educators Rising national student officers recently took time to chat about what students should know as they prepare to make the most of their conference experience.
Hailey Calderon, student vice president of programs, is a senior at Lafayette County High School in Stamps, Arkansas. She has competed in Ethical Dilemma at the regional, state, and national levels. Brooke Hess, student vice president of communications, is a senior at Sheboygan High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She has competed in Creative Lecture at the state level and the Inside Our Schools Presentation at the state and national levels. And in 2023, she placed first in the Educators Rising Leadership Award competition at nationals.
They offer their insights — and encouragement — below.
What competition should I choose?
Calderon: Whatever competition interests you!
Hess: Take a look at the competitions offered, read through the requirements, and choose a competition that you find value in and are passionate about. Consider all of your options: Do you want to compete individually? As a team? Through a contest? You can always think over your decision before submitting. Remember, not all national competition categories are offered at all state conferences. You may be able to take your entry straight to the national conference if your competition is not offered at the state level.
When/where do I submit my materials?
Hess: Each state has different requirements for submitting materials. Make sure your teacher leader connects with your state coordinator to get you those dates and resources, whether it’s via a form, an email, etc. Advocate for yourself to get the information you need.
Calderon: You can start by asking your adviser or whoever oversees your Educators Rising chapter. As Brooke said, different states have different requirements. Figure out what your state requires, then look at what’s required for nationals in the national competition guidelines.
Do I need to be an Educators Rising member?
Calderon: Yes, you have to be a paid and active member of Educators Rising in order to compete. It is a pretty simple task.
Hess: If you are organizing an entry for a group competition, keep in mind all members must be paid, active members.
What should I keep in mind with technology?
Calderon: While technology is great, it isn’t always reliable. To be on the safe side, have a backup plan and possibly a second backup that doesn’t require technology. That way, if all else fails, you can still present.
Hess: You can never be sure what technology will do. Your internet could shut down, you could have trouble connecting your presentation, etc. Whenever I compete, I always keep a paper copy of all resources for my competition category in a folder that I am able to share with the judges. Downloading your resources virtually or having them on a USB drive is also a good idea in case of inevitable tech failures.
How should I keep myself from being nervous?
Calderon: Practice in front of people you are comfortable with. Always make sure to read the room before getting started and keep your hands to your sides. What helps me is making sure I know what I’m presenting well enough so that I don’t have to read it from the board.
Hess: Practice! Practice! Practice! Whether you are giving a presentation, a speech, or answering questions on the spot, think of all the different things you may need to do. Practice your diction and memorization and compile a list of all questions the judges may decide to ask you. You can never be too prepared.
How many competitions can I do? How do team events work?
Calderon: Different states vary, but you can only participate in one event for nationals.
Hess: Paid, active Educators Rising members are able to compete in only one event for nationals whether it be an individual, dual, or team event. Dual events consist of two members. Team events consist of a minimum of two members and a maximum of four members. If you want to compete in an individual event and a dual or team event at the state level, double-check with your state coordinator to make sure you are able to compete with your teammates at your state conference.
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How does scoring work?
Hess: Scoring is different for each event. However, most categories consist of a prescored materials section, a live presentation section, and a feedback section. You can find these resources in the guidelines PDF for your competition. If you’re a paid member, you can access these in the membership portal.
Calderon: Most competitions follow a judging rubric that’s included in the guidelines. If you look at that as you prepare for your competition and remember it while competing, it will help you in the long run.
Any final thoughts?
Hess: Just go for it! Competing is a great experience, no matter how well you place. You are always welcome to come back and compete in the future — you could surprise yourself with the results. Don’t let the commitment scare you away from competing because you will ultimately be glad you did it.
Calderon: Always try your best, even if you lose. Failure helps you improve, and you never know — next year you could get first place!
