25 Educators Rising students participate in state conference

For students considering careers as teachers the Educators Rising state conference at Illinois State University this week offered an amazing menu of opportunities.

Faculty sponsors Erin Quinlan (Shepard High School), Darcey Reczkiewicz (Richards High School) and Jen Serpe (Eisenhower High School) brought 25 of their students to the conference at Illinois State University. Educators Rising offers a variety of activities for high school students interested in careers as teachers.

Students listened to a keynote address by Kim Radosits, the Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2022. They also attended instructional sessions led by a variety of educators from around the state.

In advance of the conference students wrote and illustrated books and entered them in the Children’s Literature K-3 category.

Shepard students Jessica Byrdak and Gordon Stroobosscher took second place to advance to the national finals. Their book, “The Space Between,” explores the stages of grief on a galactic journey.

Students also competed in the “EdRising moment” category, a spoken word event illustrating the point in time that made them realize teaching would be their future career.

Students from Shepard who attended include Salma Bali, Jessica Byrdak, Lysa Carerro, Brianna DiFoggio, Josie Hansen, Vincent Jackson, Madi Muthart, Kaylie Pegues, Kylie Puchalski, Kassie Shepherd, and Gordy Stroobosscher.

Students from Eisenhower who attended include Nevaeh Lewis, Alexandra Trejo, and Katlynn Rydberg.

Students from Richards who attended include Eileen Mora, Emily Styrczula, Erin Baker, Maya Sheehan, Mia Coglianese, Savannah Vahl, Mollie Warren, Morgan Keating, Reya Graham, Juliana Khoury, and Bridget Walsh.