Student leaders across PennWest University are hosting Educators Rising conferences on March 2 at the Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses, bringing together hundreds of high school students, educators, and school partners for a day focused on teaching, leadership, and service.
Planned in partnership with Student PSEA at PennWest and supported statewide through the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the conferences will give students exploring careers in education the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, leadership development, and conversations about the teaching profession.
“After attending an Educators Rising conference last fall, we were inspired by the passion high school students had for becoming teachers and wanted to bring that same energy to PennWest,” said Hannah Rake, a Clarion early childhood and elementary education major, Clarion Student PSEA president, and Student PSEA state president-elect. “Organizing this conference challenged us as student leaders and reinforced why we chose education. Creating space for future educators to explore this profession — and to picture themselves at PennWest — is incredibly meaningful.”
Student leaders Gavin Mitsdarfer (Edinboro), Rake, and Kayla Bish (California) are leading planning efforts across PennWest’s three campuses, coordinating programming and sessions that reflect both local strengths and a shared, university-wide commitment to educator preparation.
“Choosing to explore teaching is an act of leadership and service,” said PennWest President Jon Anderson, who will welcome guests at the conferences. “Programs like Educators Rising give students the opportunity to begin imagining their impact long before they ever step into their own classroom.”
PennWest and its legacy institutions — Clarion, Edinboro, and California — have a long history of preparing educators who go on to serve communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. Today, that legacy continues through a unified approach to educator preparation that emphasizes strong clinical experiences, leadership development, and community connection.
Across its campuses, PennWest is expanding innovative models designed to prepare classroom-ready educators. At Clarion, teacher candidates participate in year-long residency experiences that immerse them in classrooms for a full academic year. Building on that success, a similar residency pilot is now underway at Edinboro. At California, programs such as the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education combine scholarships, hands-on learning, and leadership development to support future educators.
While each campus offers distinct programs, all share a common goal: strengthening the “grow your own” educator pipeline by preparing graduates who return to teach in the communities they know best.
During the conferences, students will participate in sessions designed to help them explore the realities of teaching, connect with peers and mentors, and envision themselves as future educators and leaders.