Educators Rising is a national organization focused on fostering interest in the education field among youth. The club offers a unique opportunity for members to explore teaching professions through hands-on experiences, mentorships from educators and engaging discussions about the impact of education on society.
“Our first year of it [ed rising] was last year (2024), and essentially they are a group dedicated to giving opportunities for kids to learn more about the field of education,” explained Zach Lively (he/him), English teacher and advisor of Ed Rising.
Lively encourages students with any interest in exploring education to join Ed Rising. The organization wants to expand students’ ideas of the education field.
“The goal of Ed Rising is really just to have more kids that are interested in the field of education. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s really important, and there are kids who are really suited for it,” said Lively.
Every year, Educators Rising holds a conference sponsored by the University of Iowa College of Education and the Iowa State Education Association. This conference is meant to bring aspiring educators together and build their skills. They hold competitions designed to showcase students’ various teaching skills.
The club holds meetings every Wednesday focused on competition preparation.
“When we’re in more of a competition mode, we are preparing just for the state competition. We even had aspiring educators from Iowa, so like they’re kind of like the college version of Ed Rising, they would come in and help the kids with their projects,” Lively said.
Educators Rising offers high school students a unique blend of professional development and competitive opportunities, guiding their passion for education. Gretta Core (she/her), a member of Educators Rising, describes the ways the club expands her understanding of education.
“We get to meet and speak with people in various points of their education journeys, from peers interested in teaching to college students studying pedagogy to professionals who have been in the field for twenty-plus years.”
By participating in meetings and skill-based competitions, members gain invaluable experiences, refine their teaching techniques and build a strong foundation for future careers in education.
“It’s a great opportunity to network with educators and meet other aspiring educators from all over Iowa.”
Teachers sometimes seem professional and don’t always have personal relationships with the students, but Ed Rising provides a unique look into what teachers do.
“I love that Ed Rising is so informative about the field of education. As students, we are surrounded by teachers every day, but Ed Rising offers a sneak peek into the teachers’ jobs behind the scenes,” said Core.
