Rising Educators officers from left to right: Michaelah Riggins, Vice-President of College & Career-Readiness (Lake Forest High School), Kylie Hill-Shaner, Vice-President of DEIB & Membership Relations (Smyrna Middle School), Ambar Gomez-Toro, Chief Equity and Strategy Officer (Lake Forest High School), and Justin McGinnis, Vice-President of Public and Community Relations (Polytech High School).

Delaware students delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2025 Educators Rising National Conference, held June 26–29 in Orlando, Florida. With more than 3,000 middle school, high school, and collegiate students attending, the event is the premier gathering for future educators nationwide. Under the theme “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders,” the Delaware team had standout achievements:

• 39 percent of Delaware participants finished in the Top 10
• 26 students placed nationally
• 3 national champions, 3 second-place, and 3 third-place finishes

Historic Wins

• Kylie Hill‑Shaner (Smyrna Middle School) – Delaware’s first-ever Middle School National Champion, 1st Place in Exploring Support Services Careers
• Jessica Price (University of Delaware) – First Collegiate National Champion from Delaware in Creative Lecture
• Samantha Klein (Appoquinimink High School) – 1st Place in Lesson Plan & Delivery – Arts
• A special congratulations to 100 percent of Smyrna Middle School competitors, who placed in the Top 5!

Middle School National Winners

• Kylie Hill-Shaner (Smyrna Middle School) – 1^st place National Champion Exploring Services Careers
• Marley Coleman (Smyrna Middle School) – 2^nd place K-3 Children’s Literature: Spanish
• Maddox Battaglia & Kylie Hopp (Smyrna Middle School) – Top 5 Children’s Literature K-3

Junior Varsity Division National Winners

• Samantha Klein (Appoquinimink High School) – 1^st place National Champion Lesson Plan & Delivery—Arts
• Ariah Everett (Smyrna High School) – Top 10 Children’s Literature K-3
• Dayna Abbott (Smyrna High School) — Top 10 Children’s Literature Pre-K
• Brooklyn Hitchens (Middletown High School) – Top 10 Educators Rising Moment
• Londyn Everett (Smyrna High School) – Top 10 Exploring Support Services Careers
• Alicia Emory (Hodgson Vo-Tech High School) – Top 10 Job Interview
• Amelia Coker (Smyrna High School) – Top 10 Job Interview
• Bridget Connelly & Mycaela Riberio (Cape Henlopen High School) – White Ribbon Interactive Bulletin Board Middle/High School

Varsity Division National Award Winners

• Natasha Martinez (Sussex Central High School) – 2nd Place Educators Rising Moment – Spanish
• Adison Weisenberger (Smyrna High School) – 3rd Place Exploring Support Services Careers
• India Motley (St. George’s Technical High School) – 3rd Place Lesson Plan & Delivery STEM
• Breehanna Campbell & Brianna Kalb (Smyrna High School) – 3rd Place Researching Learning Challenges
• Maria Chirino (Smyrna High School) – Top 10 Children’s Literature K-3: Spanish
• Sierra Miller & Niki Zheng (St. George’s Technical High School) – Top 10 Children’s Literature Pre-K
• Demia Moon & Zaaniyah Massenburg (St. George’s Technical High School) – Top 10 Children’s Literature Pre-K
• Ambar Gomez-Toro (Lake Forest High School) – Top 10 Educators Rising Moment: Spanish
• Eglis Juarez Perez (Sussex Central High School) – Top 10 Educators Rising Moment: Spanish
• Warren Coates & Jayden Butcher (Smyrna High School) – Top 10 Ethical Dilemma
• Lorena Heredia (Howard High School of Technology) – Top 10 Exploring Support Services Careers

Collegiate National Winners

• Jessica Price (University of Delaware) – 1st Place National Champion Creative Lecture
• Leilani Carrera (University of Delaware) – 2nd Place Educators Rising Moment

Inspiring Keynotes & Professional Development

The conference kicked off Thursday evening with a dynamic keynote by Missy Testerman, 2024 National Teacher of the Year, sharing her experiences in rural Appalachian education. On Friday, Nicholas “Nick” Moore, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, spoke at the Membership Recognition Lunch, emphasizing state-level strategies that align education with workforce needs.

Robust Programming

• Focused breakout sessions covering equity, AI in classrooms, instructional innovation, and leadership pathways
• An interactive College & Innovation Fair featuring 20+ colleges and organizations
• Complimentary Praxis ParaPro/Core exams available on-site through ETS, making credentialing accessible to all pre-service educators
• Student-driven service event partnering with A Gift for Teaching, collecting classroom essentials for local Central Florida schools

About Educators Rising Delaware

Educators Rising Delaware is a Career & Technical Student Organization (CTSO) supported by the Delaware Department of Education. It empowers rising education professionals through hands‑on learning, mentorship, and competitive experiences. The national conference offers a unique platform for students to showcase skills, connect with peers, and commit to educational excellence.

Media contact:  Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

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