Future educators in the national spotlight

A new student organization at Coal City High School is training future educators, two of them earning state recognition and an opportunity to showcase their knowledge at the national level.

Educators Rising, a nationwide career and technical student organization, prepares high school students for careers as future teachers.

A goal outlined in the school district’s strategic plan is to access and explore opportunities to ensure career and college readiness, and Superintendent Chris Spencer said, “this program for future educators is part of that.”

Spencer noted that the faculty union, Coal City Community Unit Education Association, is working with administration in support of the new group advised by high school history teacher Ben Baer.

Baer told members of the Board of Education this is only the second year the organization has existed statewide.

“It has been seen as an important way to address teacher shortage as 60% of educators end up working within 20 miles from the place they graduated high school,” said Baer, who graduated from Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood.

“This is something we’ve needed for a long time. We are going to need good teachers and as a former teacher I understand that. I am so thrilled we have some of our own people going into this and hopefully will come back to us,” Board president Ken P. Miller said.

In its first year at CCHS, the organization recorded 15 members with three serving as chapter officers—president Rachel Hall, vice president Mia Ratajczak and Adaline Dowling, secretary/treasurer.

“I see my role as a sponsor to facilitate the meetings. The officers plan the agenda, the questions and run the meeting and I think that is a very valuable experience forthem. I feel that this has served our students in a variety of ways,” Baer said.

Taking part in various conferences and presentations have also proved beneficial to members of the group. The organization has hosted teacher panels focused on various topics in education including early career teachers and middle level education, “because that can be a challenging [area] to fill,” Baer said.

The panels included local teachers, retirees and award winning educators.

Members have also took part in two statewide Educator Rising Conferences, the most recent being the state leadership conference and competition.

Ratajczak and Hall entered the competition to learn more about the programs, “they went in as a learning experience just to see what its like and they drove in full steam. There were four categories [of competition] and we participated in two and Coal City won both of them,” Baer said.

The victories earned Hall and Ratajczak a spot in the national contest to be held this summer.

Hall competed in children’s literature and in doing so she was required to write and illustrate a children’s story that she performed for judges at the contest.

The story penned by Hall was titled, “Seasons Change,” and was a bout young children and how they have to be resilient.

Ratajczak competed in the Educator Rising Moment that requires participants to deliver a speech describing why they want to become a teacher.

She spoke of her work with the school’s PALS program that finds general and special education students working together.

Baer commended both students for their work in preparing for the contest and their individual presentations.

Now that they have won the state competition they move on to nationals set for June 29-July 2 in Orlando, FL.

“I think through a variety of funding we will be able to get them to that conference,” Baer said.

The Board offered its support providing $250 to each of the students to assist with their travel and conference expenses.

Future educators from across the country will be at the national conference to take part in 21 competitive events, participate in sessions, network with other future teachers and hear remarks from the 2022 National Teacher of the Year.

Baer looks to build the organization in the coming year and is hopeful the district will continue to support the program with funding.
“I feel this had served our students in a variety of ways,” the advisor said.