Adrian, MI – A group of standout students from the LISD TECH Center’s Education Careers program will be heading to Orlando, Florida, this June to represent Lenawee County at the Educators Rising National Conference. This marks a historic milestone for the program, as it is the first time LISD TECH students have qualified for the national competition.
Educators Rising is a nationwide organization that supports high school and college students who are interested in pursuing careers in education. The organization hosts regional, state, and national conferences featuring competitive events and professional development sessions. This year’s Michigan State Conference, held at Wayne State University, welcomed over 700 attendees and featured approximately 400 competitors across 10 categories.
All 46 students from the LISD TECH Center’s Education Careers program attended the state conference, with 27 competing in a variety of events. Twenty of those students earned medals, and 10 qualified for nationals.
“It was an overwhelming feeling—like a proud mom moment,” said Jody Hillard, Education Careers Instructor at the LISD TECH Center. “Sitting in the audience, cheering with tears of joy, seeing all their hard work and accomplishments come to life—it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Students competed in events ranging from public speaking to children’s literature, bulletin board creation, and teaching materials development. Preparation involved classroom practice, hands-on teaching placements, and refining presentation skills. Each event required a five-minute presentation and a ten-minute Q&A session with a panel of judges.
Those advancing to nationals include:
· Rebecca Cox & Makayla Nieman – Children’s Literature (Team)
· Aubrie Lidster & Lily Keel – Children’s Literature (Team)
· Allison Brockway – Elementary Bulletin Board
· Lilian Robinson & Riley Arno – Elementary Bulletin Board (Team)
· Yolanda Casarez – Public Speaking
· Margurite Zellen & Joseline Wilson – Teacher Created Materials (Team)
Adding to the excitement, student Rebecca Cox has also been selected to serve on the national student delegates board, helping shape the future direction of the Educators Rising organization.
“These students deserve absolute credit for their accomplishments,” Hillard said. “Even the fact that 27 of them were brave enough to step out and try something new in a competitive atmosphere is commendable. The professionalism they demonstrated represented the LISD TECH Center incredibly well.”
The LISD community is proud to support these future educators as they prepare for the national stage. Their dedication, creativity, and courage exemplify the best of Lenawee County.
For more information about the LISD TECH Center’s Education Careers program, visit lisdtechcenter.com.