Recognizes Educators Rising for its decade-long efforts in addressing the teacher shortage and promoting diversity in the education workforce.
Delia Ramirez
Representative
IL-3
This bill recognizes the 10th anniversary of Educators Rising and its efforts to combat the teacher shortage in the United States. It highlights the organization's work in attracting local talent to the education field and creating a teaching staff that reflects the diversity of the student population. The bill also acknowledges the scholarship programs and partnerships that support students pursuing careers in education through Educators Rising. It encourages continued investment in similar programs to inspire and prepare future educators.
Resolution Celebrates 10 Years of Educators Rising, Spotlights Efforts to Tackle Teacher Shortage
This resolution gives a formal nod to Educators Rising, marking its 10th anniversary and recognizing its work trying to fill the gaps in our nation's teaching staff. It specifically calls out the organization's efforts—building on its history as the Future Educators Association and Future Teachers Association—to get more local folks interested in teaching careers and make sure the teachers at the front of the classroom look more like the students sitting in them.
Giving Props Where Props Are Due
The resolution highlights some key achievements and programs. It mentions the "Grow Your Own" initiatives, which are all about encouraging students within a community to become teachers in that community. It also notes the scholarship program run by PDK International, which helps aspiring educators financially, awarding nearly 100 scholarships each year (ranging from $500 to $5,000) through Educators Rising and similar programs. The numbers show significant reach: over 325,000 students involved since 1994, with nearly 145,600 participating since the Educators Rising rebrand in 2015.
Why This Matters for Classrooms
Beyond just celebrating an anniversary, the resolution underscores the importance of these kinds of programs for the bigger picture of education. It supports the idea of high schools, colleges, and groups like Educators Rising teaming up to create smoother pathways for students heading into teaching careers. The core idea is that investing in programs that inspire and prepare the next generation of teachers is crucial for strengthening schools and, by extension, communities. It's about building a sustainable pipeline of diverse, qualified educators to address ongoing shortages and improve the educational experience for kids across the country.