STEVENS POINT – High school students from across the state will explore future career opportunities in education at the 2022 Educators Rising Wisconsin Annual Summit and Competition March 2, hosted by the UW-Stevens Point School of Education.
Intended for students in grades 9-12, the event will focus on the theme “To Plant a Seed is to Believe in Tomorrow – Strive, Survive, Thrive” and include speakers and competitive events. Educators Rising Wisconsin is a network of educators and students who promote teaching careers.
“Educators Rising understands the critical role teachers play in achieving inclusive, quality education for all,” said Lynda Fernholz, head of the UW-Stevens Point School of Education. “Teachers today have even greater significance considering the challenges both teachers and students have faced during the COVID-19 crisis. As the pandemic has shown, teachers make a vital contribution to ensuring stability of learning and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their students.”
Keynote speaker Terry Kaldhusdal, a social studies teacher in the Kettle Moraine School District, will share stories of struggles, failures and successes with his students from the last 30 years. Kaldhusdal is a 2006 Kohl Fellowship award winner, 2007 Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year, 2011 American History Teacher of the Year for Wisconsin, 2014 Wisconsin Environmental Co-Educator of the Year and the 2014 Lowell Milken Fellowship Award.
Kaldhusdal’s educational work outside of the classroom includes an Emmy nomination for Best Documentary, Award of Excellence: “Use of Film for Social Change,” Telly Award and the Humanitarian Award: Outstanding Achievement from the Global Film Awards.
Students will attend breakout sessions led by award-winning teachers, K-12 teachers and social workers, statewide university faculty and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction staff.
Competitive events and contests will also take place about lesson planning, leadership, public speaking, research and ethics. The top two scoring contestants in each competitive event qualify for the national competition.
“Educators Rising enables students to identify their strengths and passions so they discover their purpose,” Fernholz said. “Teaching is a tough gig but well worth it for those with the ability to make a difference in the classroom.”
Formerly Future Teachers of Wisconsin, Educators Rising-Wisconsin aims to inspire and equip a future generation of educators to serve Wisconsin’s public schools. It works to encourage young people to explore the benefits of a career in education and embrace the calling of teaching as a profession. The organization is coordinated by the Wisconsin Education Association Council and sponsored by the national Phi Delta Kappa organization.
Since 1894, the School of Education has been the hub of teacher preparation programs at UW-Stevens Point. It prepares future teachers majoring in early childhood education, elementary education, physical education or special education. The School of Education also supports students seeking certification in K-12 and secondary education.
Source: UW-Stevens Point
