Delaware students make history at Educators Rising conference

DELAWARE - Delaware students brought home more than just beach souvenirs from the 2025 Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando last weekend. According to the Delaware Department of Education, historic wins include Delaware’s first-ever middle school national champion as well as a student from the University of Delaware being the first collegiate national champion in creative lecture. 

The event gathers students from middle school to college who are interested in education as a career. The conference includes keynote speakers and competitions on professional skills.

Out of 3,000 students in attendance, 39 percent of Delaware’s participating students finished in the top 10 in their events, with 26 students placing nationally. Every competitor from Smyrna Middle School placed in the top 5 in their events. Delaware had three national champions as well as three second place and three 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 Careera
• 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

Middle School National Winners

• Kylie Hill-Shaner (Smyrna Middle School) – 1st place National Champion Exploring Services Careers
• Marley Coleman (Smyrna Middle School) – 2nd 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) – 1st 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

Keynote speakers throughout the weekend covered a variety of topics from equity and leadership to AI in classrooms and instructional innovation.