All Stories

Carthage welcomed juniors and seniors from Racine Unified School District and Kenosha Unified School District to campus for the fifth annual Educators Rising event, held on March 31.

The event was organized under the guidance of Carthage’s Professor Paul Martino, dean for the Division of Professional Studies; Prof. Jacqueline Easley, professor of education; Prof. Karin Sconzert, chair of the Education Department; Prof. Patricia Rieman, chair of the Master in Education Program; Prof. Michele Hancock, vice president of college culture and inclusion; and Prof. Siovahn Williams, director of the Accelerated Certification in Teaching and the Urban Teacher Preparation Program.

Carthage students at the 2022 Educators Rising Conference.

The cooperative goal of the Educators Rising is to provide engagement between Education Pathway ninth- through twelfth-grade aspiring teachers, college education students, faculty, staff, and community leaders. The expected outcome is that RUSD and KUSD students will have an opportunity to receive the support, skills, and knowledge that will make it more likely that not only will the participants join education careers but teach in their communities.

Carthage students Essence Christian ’25 and Katie Drummond ’23, and Patrick Sobkowski, career specialist in The Aspire Center, assisted in managing the event. Carthage students Kiannah Hayes ’25, Philip Hunter ’24, and Henry Martin ’24 shared their stories and experiences and demonstrated the theme of the event, “Representation Matters.”

Students at the 2022 Educators Rising Conference.

During lunch, University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Prof. Shannon Prince and Parkside students led an art activity to engage high school students in deeper thinking about education careers. High school students created a collage of hands to display their educational interests. The art is displayed in Carthage College’s education hallway in Lentz Hall.

The 2022 Educators Rising Conference was held on March 31, 2022.

Sessions were led by Carthage faculty and guests from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, United Way Racine, Kenosha Job Center, and Higher Expectations Racine. The sessions included everything students need to know about going to college and being successful, as well as joining education or a non-profit career.

The sessions were: 

We’re Not Teachers, But We Work in Schools — How do I give back to my community?
Presented by United Way Racine County’s Community School Team: Leigh Ann Martinez, Zyaire Strowder, Kira Munoz, and Katie Tuttle

Motivate Me!
Presented by Shalonda Black with the Kenosha Job Center

Prof. Michele Hancock at the 2022 Educators Rising Conference. Diversity and Inclusion at Carthage
Presented by Carthage’s Profs. Michele Hancock, Julius Crump, and Jeffrey Thomas

Creativity and Education: Theater in Education
Presented by Carthage theatre professor Nora Carroll

Education Programs, Majors, and Minors
Presented by Carthage professor Karin Sconzert, with the support of student Grace Chapa, a Carthage education major

Pathway to Education Careers: How do I give back to my community session
Presented by Higher Expectations of Racine’s Kristin Jenders, and United Way of Racine’s Jessica Schacht

We are thankful that members of local school districts visited and participated in the festivities. We look forward to working with the RUSD and KUSD students again and will be expanding our program to other school districts.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Education Department

For more information, contact:

Prof. Siovahn Williams