RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDUCATORS RISING

On 2025-03-04, Representative Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA-4) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDUCATORS RISING" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered education, infrastructure.

RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDUCATORS RISING

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E183-E184] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDUCATORS RISING ______ HON. JENNIFER L. McCLELLAN of virginia in the house of representatives Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Educators Rising. Established in 1937, Educators Rising, formally known as the Future Teachers of America, serves as a nationwide movement dedicated to eliminating the teacher shortage in America by recruiting, preparing, and inspiring the next generation of educators. The Future Teachers Association evolved into the Future Educators Association and was acquired by PDK International in 1994 and rebranded as Educators Rising in 2015. Educators Rising is a community-based Career and Technical Student Organization within Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International that develops middle and high school students in rural, urban, and suburban communities to become highly skilled educators in the communities where they live. As a ``Grow Your Own'' initiative, Educators Rising helps create diverse teaching workforces that reflect communities where students live. Teachers who share similar backgrounds and experiences with their students foster stronger student-teacher relationships and improved academic outcomes, including higher test scores, rates of high school graduation and college enrollment, more inclusive school climates, fewer suspensions, and lower rates of chronic absenteeism. With over 1,400 school chapters and 38 state-level partnerships, Educators Rising has a presence in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It continues to work with institutions of higher education and State Departments of Education to create seamless transitions into the education field. In Virginia, over 70 schools have an Educators Rising Chapter that contributes to ending the teacher shortage in America, including eight in Virginia's 4th District. Since 1994, over 325,000 students have participated in Educators Rising, including nearly 145,600 students since its 2015 rebranding. With over 60 percent of K-12 educators in the United States teaching within 20 miles of the high school they attended, creating pathways for local talent to enter the teaching profession plays a critical role in addressing our nation's shortage of teachers. PDK International awards nearly 100 scholarships annually, ranging from $500 to $5,000, to students pursuing careers in education through Educators Rising and other PDK International programs. I commend Educators Rising's work to recruit local and diverse talent while building career pathways for educators as a solution to addressing teacher shortages in communities across the country. Their hard work and commitment to producing driven teachers is remarkable and essential to the development of a student's academic success. [[Page E184]] ____________________