Since 2023, students in the JoCo TEACH (Johnston County Teaching Educators and Coming Home) program at Smithfield-Selma High have had the opportunity to attend the annual Educators Rising National Conference.
During the three-day event, students hear keynote presentations from national education leaders, network with other members from across the country, participate in more than 40 breakout sessions, and compete for national titles in competitive events designed to allow students to develop and showcase their teaching skills.
The Educators Rising National Conference brings together over 3,000 students from around the country who are interested in careers as educators. The Educators Rising organization’s vision is to eliminate the teacher shortage by reimagining educator pathways. Their mission is to inspire and grow current and rising educators to become community leaders and advocates for high-quality education.
The conference is the capstone experience for JoCo TEACH students. Established in 2019, JoCo TEACH is an exclusive program offered at Smithfield-Selma High designed to invest in and recruit diverse students seeking a degree in education. It provides a seamless pathway for students to earn an associate’s degree from Johnston Community College (JCC) while attending high school.
In 2022, the JCPS Board of Education approved the creation of the JoCo TEACH Scholarships to open doors for aspiring educators while strengthening the future of Johnston County Public Schools. Each year, five students are awarded scholarships valued at $30,000, distributed over three years. In return, these scholars commit to bringing their talent and passion back to JCPS classrooms after earning their Bachelor of Education degree, serving as teachers for three years, and inspiring the next generation of learners.
At the 2025 conference held in Orlando, Florida, there were 34 JoCo TEACH students who represented JCPS. Twenty-two students competed in events such as Lesson Planning and Delivery, Job Interviews, Interactive Bulletin Boards, and Teacher-Created Materials. Thirteen of those students placed in the top ten in their competitions that included Creative Lecture, Exploring Administrative Careers, and Teacher Recruitment.
In 2024, the contingency representing JCPS achieved phenomenal results, including a national winner, a third-place winner, and a top-ten finisher. Ariana Resaul won 3rd Place in the Interview category. This year, Resaul, Class of 2026, will compete for one final time as a Smithfield-Selma High student.
Even though this will not be Resaul’s first time at the conference, her excitement is the same as her first experience. “Every year, the conference makes me feel more inspired and reassures me that I want to be a teacher,” she said. “Meeting people from across the country who share my passion for education is such an important experience for young aspiring educators like me.”
JCPS JoCo TEACH Coordinator Suzanne Sweat chaperones each year and has a front row seat to witness the transformations in her students. “Each year they come back with stronger leadership skills, more clarity about their career goals, and a sense of belonging in the teaching profession,” she said. “Watching that growth unfold is one of my favorite parts of this experience.”
This year’s conference theme is Teach with Purpose, Lead with Passion and will be held from June 20 to June 23 in Portland, Oregon. To prepare, Sweat and her students have developed a very specific strategy and competition schedule. It requires students to complete tasks each month leading up to the event so that every student will develop the skills they need to be successful in their competitions.
For freshman Ella Mericer, it is her first chance to take part in the conference, where she hopes to compete in either Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers, Lesson Planning and Delivery, or the Interactive Bulletin Board events.
“I think that this opportunity will help prepare me for my career as an educator by giving me feedback about what I can improve on to be a better teacher, and help show me other ways you can help teach students,” Mercier said.