During the September Webster Parish School Board meeting, three pre-educator students and their sponsors, Mrs. Amy Phillips, a French teacher at North Webster High School, and Mrs. Ashanti Cooper, assistant principal at Webster Junior High School, presented on their recent trip to Washington, D.C., where they attended the Educators Rising National Conference in June.
Educators Rising, a national movement under PDK International, focuses on increasing teacher diversity and quality by guiding students from school-based chapters into teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education. With support from local funders and state departments of education, the initiative provides a clear pathway for students to pursue teaching careers.
The students, enrolled in dual-enrollment education courses through the University of Louisiana at Monroe, had the opportunity to compete at the national level after placing at the state Educators Rising conference. Out of 3,300 aspiring educators in attendance, two of the North Webster students placed in the top 10 in their respective categories.
“They were able to learn so much,” said Phillips during the presentation. The conference experience not only broadened the students’ knowledge of education but also solidified their passion for pursuing teaching careers.
Mrs. Cooper announced plans to launch an Educators Rising club at Webster Junior High School, stating, “We’re here to grow our own. Get them excited about teaching, so when they go to 9th grade and they can start working on those credentials for high school, they already have a background, they already have a foundation.”
Phillips elaborated on the significance of the program, noting that students take dual-enrollment courses titled Multicultural Learning Communities and Foundations of Education under the guidance of Dr. Amy Weems. Successful completion of the courses results in two college credits. Through this program, the students also joined the National Educators Rising Club, which led them to the national competition.
The five students who attended the conference were Cailey Nail, Callie Lewis, Allison Lorenz, Gabrielle Cooper, and Abrianna Gardner. Lorenz competed in the Children’s Literature category, where she wrote and illustrated a children’s book. Nail and Lewis, referred to as the “Dynamic Duo” at North Webster, placed 10th nationally in the Inside Our Schools category with a video on innovative technology at their school.
“We in Webster Parish are committed to the ‘Grow Our Own’ philosophy,” said Phillips. “We seek to inspire our students to embrace the love of learning and joys of teaching, in order for them to hopefully return as educators to our parish.”
Beyond the competition, the students visited several historical landmarks, including the Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, and Ford’s Theater. Each student left with a favorite memory of the trip, enhancing their educational journey.
With the success of this year’s participants, Webster Parish is optimistic about the future of the Educators Rising program and its potential to cultivate the next generation of educators.
