Delaware students help build the future of Delaware’s educator workforce

Delaware is strengthening its educator workforce by helping students explore teaching and education careers while they are still in school. Through programs like Teacher Academy and Educators Rising, students gain authentic classroom experience, develop leadership skills, and prepare for careers that will help meet the state's future workforce needs.

That strategy was on full display as Delaware students earned national recognition at the 2026 Educators Rising National Conference, demonstrating the knowledge, professionalism, and leadership that will shape the next generation of educators.

Competing against students from across the country, Delaware students earned more than 20 Top 10 national finishes, including three national championships, across classroom instruction, educational leadership, communication, and career exploration events. Their success reflects the strength of Delaware's Teacher Academy and Educators Rising programs, which prepare students for careers as teachers, administrators, counselors, instructional leaders, and other education professionals through authentic, hands-on learning experiences.

More than 3,300 middle school, high school, and collegiate students participated in the national conference, held last week at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Through performance-based competitions, leadership development, networking, and professional learning experiences, students demonstrated the skills and dispositions needed to succeed as future educators.

"These students are already showing what it means to lead, to teach, and to serve," Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. "A strong educator workforce does not begin when someone applies for their first teaching job. It begins much earlier, when young people have the chance to work alongside educators, discover their purpose, and see themselves as part of the future of our schools. Through Teacher Academy and Educators Rising, Delaware students are learning by doing, building confidence, and developing the skills our classrooms and communities will need."

National Champions

Lesson Plan & Delivery: Career & Technical Education (Varsity)

• Samantha Klein, Appoquinimink High School (Appoquinimink School District)

Ethical Dilemma (Varsity) - 1st Place

• Ciara Martinez & Madison Lomax, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

Hacktivate Challenge

• Aerianna Orelus, Delmar High School (Delmar School District)

National Runner-Up Finishes

Exploring Education Administration Careers (Junior Varsity)

• Maddox Battaglia, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

Exploring Support Service Careers (Varsity)

• Isabella Bento, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

Creative Lecture (Collegiate)

• Jessica Price, University of Delaware

Researching Learning Challenges (Varsity)

• Janiyah Ridgeway & Savannah Keer, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

Creative Lecture (Varsity)

• Cameron Estrada, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

Additional National Top-10 Finishes

3rd Place

• Children's Literature Pre-K (Junior Varsity) - Jamisen Galloway, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Children's Literature Pre-K: Spanish (Junior Varsity) - Marley Coleman, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Lesson Planning & Delivery: Spanish (Varsity) - Camila Vazquez, ASPIRA Academy (Charter School)

4th Place

• Children's Literature Pre-K (Varsity) - Jinnah Small, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers (Junior Varsity) - Samuel Sawyer, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Lesson Plan & Delivery: Career & Technical Education (Varsity) - Amelia Coker, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Lesson Planning & Delivery: Spanish (Junior Varsity) - Lia Torres, Concord High School (Brandywine School District)

5th Place

• Creative Lecture (Collegiate) - Austin Colazzo, Wilmington University

• Public Speaking (Varsity) - China Hart, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

6th Place

• Job Interview (Varsity) - Ryan Grobelny, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Researching Learning Challenges (Junior Varsity) - Gabriella Gianacoplis & Destiny Watkins, Sussex Technical High School (Sussex Technical School District)

• Inside Our Schools (Varsity) - Georgina Dixon, Adison Weisenberger & Katherine Hernan, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

8th Place

• Children's Literature K-3: Spanish (Varsity) - Maria Aguilar-Ramos, Concord High School (Brandywine School District)

• Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers (Junior Varsity) - Sky Wilson, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)

• Lesson Planning & Delivery: STEM (Varsity) - India Motley, St. George's Technical High School (New Castle County Vocational Technical School District)

9th Place

• Children's Literature K-3 (Junior Varsity) - Brooke Kessler & Addison Moseder, Caesar Rodney High School (Caesar Rodney School District)

• Public Speaking (Varsity) - Naeema Islam, Concord High School (Brandywine School District)

National Ribbon Recognition

Interactive Bulletin Board - Elementary (Junior Varsity)

Red Ribbon

• Summer Kulhom, Caesar Rodney High School (Caesar Rodney School District)

White Ribbon

• Chloe Haberman & Hannah Harrall, POLYTECH High School (POLYTECH School District)

Educators Rising Senate & Delegate Leaders

• Kylie Hill-Shaner, Smyrna High School (Smyrna School District)
• Pierina Ramos, Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest School District)
• Arienna Orelus, Delmar High School (Delmar School District)
• Violette-Kathryn Smith, Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest School District)

Dr. Michael Hill-Shaner, education associate at the Delaware Department of Education and state director of Delaware Educators Rising, also was honored with the Educators Rising Vanguard Award. The Vanguard Award is one of the organization's highest national honors, recognizing individuals whose visionary leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment have significantly advanced the mission of Educators Rising while strengthening and expanding the educator workforce pipeline.

Delaware's national delegation represented Appoquinimink High School, ASPIRA Academy, Caesar Rodney High School, Concord High School, Delcastle Technical High School, Howard High School of Technology, Indian River High School, Lake Forest High School, Laurel High School, Odessa High School, POLYTECH High School, Seaford High School, Smyrna High School, St. George's Technical High School, Sussex Technical High School, the University of Delaware, and Wilmington University.

Educators Rising is Delaware's Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students interested in education careers. Together with Delaware's Teacher Academy programs, it is part of the state's broader strategy to strengthen the educator workforce by helping students explore teaching careers, gain authentic classroom experience, and prepare to serve Delaware schools and communities.

Media contact: Alison May, [email protected], 302-735-4006