The Saline County Career Center Educators Rising chapter participated in the State Educators Rising competition and conference on Friday, March 7. Seventeen members competed, and all will advance to the Educators Rising National Conference and Competition in Orlando, Florida to be held June 25-30, 2025.

Chapter members competed in ten different competition categories. In the Exploring Support Services/ Non-Core/ Administration Careers competitions students shadowed an educator for eight hours, interviewed them, and created a 5-7 minute presentation, which they gave to the judges. In Exploring Support Services Careers, Kylie Dillon placed first and worked with Mrs. Jackie Marshall. Presley Duncan took second place in Exploring Support Services and worked with Ms. Jordan Reith.

Sophia Christy earned first place in Exploring Administration Careers with Mrs. Jamie Dillon, and Maddi Hood earned fifth place in Exploring Administration Careers with Mr. Fernando Navarro. Alejandra Lopez earned third place after competing in Exploring Non-Core Subject Teaching Careers with Dr. Daniel Wright. Morgan Allen placed sixth in Exploring Non-Core Subject Teaching Careers with Mrs. Angie Keele.

In the Interactive Bulletin Board Contest, students researched learning standards and created a unique bulletin board that could be used to teach a lesson. Adraya Graham placed third in this category for elementary school students for her bulletin board instructing students on the branches of government. Elizabeth Bennett placed third in the Interactive Bulletin Board Contest for Middle/High School Students with her Sudoku board.

There were several speaking competitions. The first one was a Creative Lecture competition. Taylor Fann placed second in this category with her 5-10 minute speech on AI in education. The next competition was Educators Rising Moment, where students created a 3-4 minute speech on why they want to become teachers. Amanda McGuire placed fifth in this category. Trevieon Carter placed eighth in EdRising Moment. Public Speaking involved delivering a speech over how to improve teacher retention. Max Habekott competed in this category and earned fifth place for their speech.

For Children’s Literature Pre-K and K-3, students wrote and illustrated a children’s book. In the Pre-K category author Makena McFarland and illustrator Josie Eddy placed seventh, and author Caroline Davis and illustrator Colbee Norman placed eighth. Ingrid Aguilar-Garcia wrote and illustrated her K-3 children’s book in Spanish and took first place in her category.

This is the fifth year the SCCC Educators Rising chapter competed at the state level. Educators Rising is a national organization and a community-based movement, in which students can explore career opportunities in education and showcase the skills they have gained in their education and training programs. The SCCC chapter is open to students in grades 11-12 at Marshall, Malta Bend, Slater, and Sweet Springs high schools.