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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted its third annual Future Teacher Conference on November 15. This event welcomed nearly 300 high school students aspiring to be teachers. The Future Teacher Conference has grown from 100 attendees in its first year to nearly 300 this year, reflecting the rising interest in educational careers as well as a testament to this event’s successful engagement with student registrants.

Organized by SIUE’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), the conference has become a key event for those exploring teaching pathways. Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, Dean of SIUE’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) highlighted the conference’s growth stating, “Excitement and enthusiasm define this year’s event. Thanks to our dedicated staff and partners like Scott Credit Union and the SIUE Meridian Society, we’ve nearly tripled attendance since we began.”

The conference opened with an inspiring session by Rachael Mahmood, EdD, ISBE 2024 Teacher of the Year. Rachael was able to share her experience and insights on the field of teaching, helping inspire event attendees.

Throughout the event, students broke into smaller groups to attend specialized sessions led by guest speakers. One of these guest speakers, Peyton Tieffel, a third-year SIUE student studying secondary education with a concentration in biology, also competes for SIUE’s cross-country and track team. She shared her journey into education, emphasizing her mission to inspire a love for science for future generations.

“The whole reason I wanted to go into teaching was to inspire others to be excited about science,” Peyton explained. “Being able to share my passion with others today was incredibly fulfilling.” She also highlighted how SIUE’s commitment to supporting future educators has been crucial in her own journey. She adds, “SIUE has made scholarships available to students like me who are pursuing careers in teaching, which has been incredibly helpful in making my dreams a reality.

These small groups provided students with real-life insights into teaching, discussing both its rewards and challenges. “We want students to see that, despite its difficulties, teaching is incredibly rewarding,” said Alison Reeves, PhD, associate professor and Associate Dean of SEHHB.

The day concluded with a keynote from Tron Young, EdD, assistant superintendent of Alton School District #11. Young shared more than just a passionate speech. He was not shy about putting on a performance including singing and dancing as well as getting audience volunteers to help share his message.

Young challenged each audience member to be the kind of teacher you look back on with appreciation saying, “We all can recall the teachers that saw the potential and pushed us to be the best versions of ourself. I want to be the teacher who gets the best I can get from you, we can all recall the teachers who did or did not do that. My question is what type of teacher do you want to be?"

Young shared his journey from SIUE student to 2020 Illinois Middle School Principal of the Year, encouraging attendees to pursue their passion for education stating that “teaching is the most rewarding job there is.”

As the event ended students left inspired and eager to pursue their future career in teaching. Taylor remarked, “Seeing so many young people excited about becoming educators is truly inspiring. The future of education looks bright.”

Thanks to the support of the sponsors, faculty and community partners, SIUE’s Future Teachers Conference was a roaring success, playing a key role in inspiring the next generation of educators. 

PHOTOS:  Students in attendance at the third annual Future Teacher Conference; Rachael Mahmood, EdD, ISBE 2024 Teacher of the Year, speaks to table of attendees;  keynote speaker Tron Young, EdD