Students from four Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) high schools attended the 2017 Educators Rising National Conference in Phoenix June 23-26 to learn, network and celebrate the teaching profession. They also went to compete.
The conference included 22 performance-based events “in which teenage, aspiring teachers demonstrate their knowledge, skills and leadership in education,” according to the organization’s website.
The knowledge, skills and leadership demonstrated by 11 VBCPS students earned them national awards and recognition in seven individual and team events.
Congratulations to the following award winners:
First Place: Christina Zendzian, Tallwood High School, Lesson Planning: Humanities
Second Place: Nicole Finocchio, Kellam High School, Exploring Education Administration Careers
Third Place: Jamaree Isekeije, Tallwood High School, Exploring Careers in Non-Core Subject Teaching
Top 10: Taylor Payne, Katherine Stauch and Amy Needham, Cox High School, Inside Our Schools
Top 10: Aubrey Redifer, Bayside High School, Educators Rising Leadership Award
Top 10: Aubrey Redifer and Kailyn Bourque, Bayside High School, Researching Learning Challenges
Top 10: Kamryn Creary, Ashlie Rexach and Natalia Torres, Bayside High School, Ethical Dilemma
The five seniors and six juniors, who were enrolled in the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow (VTfT) classes at their respective high schools this year, became eligible to compete at the national level by earning first- or second-place awards in their respective Educators Rising state competitions. Their VTfT teachers Jenna Free (Tallwood), Carrie Gantt (Kellam), Meg Manugo (Bayside) and Jennifer Nardelli (Cox), also attended the national conference and competition.
For more information about Educators Rising, formerly known as the Future Educators Association, visit www.educatorsrising.org.