Rising Stars in Education

The University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) was proud to host the Delaware Educators Rising education conference for middle school and high school students February 10 and 11, 2026. More than 370 students from schools across the state attended this year’s event at the Trabant University Center on the Newark campus. 

The conference, held annually by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) and Delaware Teacher Academies, supports Delaware public school students interested in becoming teachers by providing professional development and networking opportunities. The event featured remarks from Delaware state leaders and educators, workshops, competitions, a UD pep rally and more for participants.

With a commitment to high-quality teacher preparation and supporting Delaware’s children, families and communities, CEHD partners with the DDOE and other universities each year to sponsor the event. This year, CEHD hosted the event for the second time and proudly awarded UD scholarships to the top winners of the Children’s Literature and the Lesson Planning and Delivery varsity competitions.

“Hosting the Educators Rising state conference allows us to celebrate and invest in the next generation of educators,” said Jamie Bailey, CEHD recruiter for teacher preparation programs and coordinator of UD’s participation in the event. “As Delaware continues to experience a teacher shortage, events like this are critical to strengthening the pipeline by inspiring students early, supporting their interests and helping them envision themselves as future educators who will shape and serve their communities. As of this month, we’ve seen a 37% increase in Delaware resident applications for our education bachelor’s programs.”

Over the two-day event, faculty and staff shared information about UD teacher preparation programs and served as competition judges and education mentors for participants.

“On behalf of the college and university, we’re proud to host this conference again and to sponsor up to $60,000 in competition awards for this year’s winners. The University of Delaware believes in investing in you, because we know excellent educators are cultivated early—through experiences that build confidence, strengthen skills and empower students to reach their full potential,” said Rena Hallam, interim dean of CEHD, during the awards ceremony. “Education needs teachers like you—thoughtful, committed and ready to make a difference.”

“These awards are an investment in students who have already shown a passion for teaching and learning,” Bailey said. “Supporting them at this stage helps open doors to higher education and encourages them to continue pursuing careers in education here in Delaware.”

Becoming a Teacher with UD

In addition to supporting events like the Educators Rising conference, UD offers many pathways to becoming a teacher, including innovative associate and bachelor’s degree programs in CEHD and the College of Arts and Sciences, non-degree certification programs for professionals interested in teaching through UD’s Alternative Routes to Certification program and extensive hands-on experiences through field placements, teacher and residencies. 

In fact, the UD Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation (CEETP), housed within CEHD, provides support services across 28 undergraduate and graduate programs while partnering with local schools and districts. CEETP also leads initiatives like the Teachers of Tomorrow pipeline program and the Teacher Residency program, which address teacher shortages and prepare students to make a lasting impact in Delaware and beyond.

To learn more about becoming a teacher with UD, visit CEETP’s website.

About Educators Rising 

Educators Rising, a national organization with chapters in all 50 states, provides middle school, high school and college students interested in education careers with the opportunity to participate in professional development events, engage in educational competitions and expand their experiences as rising educational professionals. The national organization provides its chapters with classroom resources and the opportunity to attend the national conference where members, teacher leaders and educators showcase the skills they have gained in their education and training programs.

To learn more about the Delaware chapter of Educators Rising or review the event program, visit their website.

Faculty and staff from across CEHD volunteered at Educators Rising, sharing information about UD teacher preparation programs, judging competitions and serving as education mentors for participants.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Shelly Silva.