Mississippi Educators Rising Brings Future Teachers Together for 2026 Fall Leadership Conference

BRANDON, MS — Mississippi Educators Rising brought together over 800 aspiring educators from across the state for its 2026 Fall Leadership Conference, held September 23 at the Brandon Civic Center. The high-energy conference, themed “Get Your Teach On,” gave middle and high school students an opportunity to explore the teaching profession, strengthen their leadership skills, prepare for competitive events, and connect with other future educators from across Mississippi.

Hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education, the conference showcased the many opportunities available to students through Mississippi Educators Rising, a career and technical student organization dedicated to developing the next generation of educators.

Mississippi students interested in becoming educators can also begin preparing for the profession while still in high school through the Educator Preparation Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. The program provides students with opportunities to explore careers in education, develop foundational knowledge and skills related to teaching and learning, and gain hands-on experiences that help prepare them for postsecondary educator preparation programs and future careers in education. Educators Rising complements the CTE pathway by extending students’ learning beyond the classroom through leadership development, competitive events, service, professional experiences, and connections with other aspiring educators across Mississippi.

One of the highlights of the conference transformed the main stage into a working elementary classroom. Mrs. Melody Macon, Rankin County Teacher of the Year and third-grade teacher at Northshore Elementary School, joined the conference with 16 of her students to conduct a live mathematics lesson. Conference attendees were able to watch effective teaching in action and then examine the instructional strategies, student engagement, classroom management, and preparation that go into creating a successful lesson.

“Students often hear us talk about what great teaching looks like, but there is something incredibly powerful about giving them the opportunity to actually see it happen,” said Kimberly Usry, Mississippi Educators Rising State Advisor. “Mrs. Macon and her students brought teaching to life right in front of our members. It allowed our future educators to see the relationships, preparation, energy, and skill that are part of this profession.”

Sessions included leadership development, information about the benefits of Educators Rising membership, and introduced students to competitive events available through the organization.

Students also received a preview of the 2027 Mississippi Educators Rising State Leadership Conference, scheduled for February 16–18, 2027, at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The upcoming conference will feature the theme “Through the Decades” and will include competitive events, leadership opportunities, college and career connections, recognition programs, service activities, and networking opportunities for future educators.

The Fall Leadership Conference also introduced Mississippi Educators Rising’s 2026–2027 statewide community service project benefiting Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi. Chapters across the state will collect new art supplies for the organization’s new Learning Center, where the materials will support learning activities and therapeutic services for children.

Beyond preparing students for conferences and competitions, Mississippi Educators Rising provides students with opportunities to explore careers in education before graduating from high school while developing the leadership, communication, and professional skills needed for their futures.

“Our goal is not simply to tell students that Mississippi needs teachers,” Usry said. “We want them to experience what it means to be an educator, develop confidence in their own abilities, and see that they already have the potential to make a difference in the lives of students. These young people are not just learning about the future of education—they are the future of education.”

About Mississippi Educators Rising

Mississippi Educators Rising is a career and technical student organization for students interested in education-related careers. Working alongside Mississippi’s Educator Preparation CTE pathway, Educators Rising provides students with opportunities for leadership development, competitive events, professional learning, service, and hands-on experiences designed to help them explore the education profession and develop the skills necessary to become future educators and leaders.