Conferences

A note about the dress code for all MA Educators Rising Events from your Student Leaders:

I want to highlight the dress code for all our events and remind everyone of the importance of dressing professionally. With our Fall Leadership Conference happening less than a month away, we ask all attendees to wear business casual because presenting ourselves professionally matters. This conference is a fantastic opportunity to represent yourself, your school, and our organization proudly.

The Educators Rising organization requires business casual attire for all attendees at the national level; therefore, the same standard is in place for state events. For those competing at the state and national levels, following the dress code is especially important because competitors who do not follow it will lose points. Whether you’re competing or attending, dressing appropriately helps you make a positive impression and shows respect for the event and everyone involved.

For all events this year, here are some key guidelines: Acceptable attire includes slacks or dress pants, dresses or skirts that fall at or below the knee, dress shirts, blouses, button-down shirts, formal sweaters, blazers, and Educators Rising polo shirts. Jeans without holes may be acceptable, but sweatpants, leggings, shorts, tank tops, midriff tops, t-shirts, and hoodies are prohibited. Acceptable footwear includes flats, dress shoes, loafers, or boots, while flip-flops, slippers, and athletic shoes are not permitted. Hats are prohibited, but head coverings required for religious or cultural reasons are allowed.

Following this dress code shows respect for the event and helps you make a great first impression. It also helps us all present ourselves with confidence and professionalism. Let’s all come prepared to look confident and professional!

We are proud to be sponsored by The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

State Conference 2026

The 2026 MA State Educators Rising Conference will be held on Wednesday, March 4th. This year, we will partner with UMass Boston. Please save the date!

Here are the competitions and contests we will run so that you can prepare early!

Competitions: Contests:

Educators Rising Moment - Interactive Bulletin Board MS
Lesson planning for the arts - Teacher Created Materials
Children's Literature Pre-k -K English
Children's Literature Pre-k - K Spanish
Research Learning Challenge - Team

*Please review the requirements for each competition and contest in the membership portal and adhere to the correct age group.

I'll share more information on submitting your work as we get closer to the event.

***Call for judges! If you'd be interested in judging one of the above competitions, please email Starr Sackstein with your interest. Please indicate if you can judge a Spanish competition as well.

Please register here starting January 5th.

You must be in the system to register, even as a non-member registering a group. You can join here if you aren't already in the system. Click on the Educator Rising Middle/High School membership if you are a student or an adult.

Just a reminder that you MUST be a member by February 1 in order to compete at the state or national event. This includes member dues ($25 per student which covers state and national membership.)

Important information about attending the conference at UMB

Directions to the campus
Parking information

Session Descriptions for the Conference: Check back regularly until all of the sessions are added.

Workshop A: Enhancing Self-Pereception in the Classroom

Presented by: Matilda Trudell & Jamie Donahue?

Join two Minuteman Tech High School students as they present their project on self-perception in the classroom. As young teachers, we have learned that the environment and teachers shape how children view themselves. Our presentation is about how you can support positive self-perception as a teacher.

Workshop B: Fine Arts Education

Presented by Liberty McCloskey, State President

Explore how music and dance positively influence children's development with your State President! Incorporating diverse music and dance into the daily routine supports children's growth in many ways. My presentation is about how to incorporate music and dance into lessons while achieving the same goal.

Workshop C: The Power of Play: Why Play Is Learning

Presented by Gabby Kangume, State Vice President

Come join this interactive session on exploring the importance of play with your Vice President. Play is more than fun; it is a powerful and important way young children learn. This interactive workshop explores how play supports cognitive, social, emotional, and language development in early childhood. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and gain practical strategies for observing children through play. Attendees will leave with an understanding of why play matters and how to incorporate it in the classroom.

Workshop D: Becoming a Teacher

Presented by Zaire Simmonds

Welcome to our upcoming workshop, where participants can explore and tap into their inner teacher. Throughout the workshop, students will be guided in creating their teacher persona by designing their teacher look, meeting fellow teachers in their subject field, and designing their classroom norms and structure. In addition to these activities, students will engage in a game of "What would you do," where they will be presented with scenarios and work with their teams to discuss how they would handle specific situations as teachers. This workshop offers a unique and engaging approach to understanding the teaching profession by allowing students to create their own vision of themselves as teachers. We hope participants will leave the workshop feeling inspired and empowered with a newfound understanding that there is a teacher in all of us. Thank you for considering joining us for this exciting opportunity.

Workshop E: Student Leadership & Advocacy

Presented by Claire Mullen

Join Chief of Staff Claire Mullen and other Board Members from the Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives (MASR) for an engaging session on what it means to be a student leader and advocate. Participants will explore practical strategies to build their leadership skills, use their voice effectively, and create meaningful change in their schools and communities. To close the workshop, everyone will create a small leadership-themed craft to take home—a reminder of the core values and lessons shared during this empowering experience.

Workshop F: It’s More Than Just a Name on the Roster: Building Community in Your Classroom

Presented by: Sophie Curtis and Neolani Alperin, student leaders from New Hampshire

A strong classroom community is the foundation for student engagement, academic success, and emotional safety. This interactive workshop explores what it truly means to build community beyond learning student names. Participants will examine the characteristics of a positive classroom environment, reflect on their role in fostering belonging, and engage in practical strategies they can immediately implement in their classrooms. Through discussion, reflection, and collaborative activities, participants will learn how intentional relationship-building, communication, and shared expectations create classrooms where students feel valued, respected, and motivated to learn. Participants will leave with tools to actively support inclusive, trusting, and collaborative learning environments across grade levels.

National Ed Rising Conference

The 2026 Educators Rising National Conference is scheduled to take place June 20-23, 2026, in Portland, Oregon, at the Portland Convention Center. The 2026 Conference Theme will be Teach with Purpose, Lead with Passion.

Each year, Educators Rising hosts a national conference to convene our network of rising educators and teacher leaders. It’s a unique opportunity for students and their teacher leaders to:

Connect and learn from each other through more than 40 breakout sessions;
Network with other members from across the country;
Compete for national titles in competitive events designed to allow students to develop and showcase their teaching skills; and
Be inspired by keynote presentations from national education leaders

Download the 2026 conference tentative schedule (PDF).

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