Students and teachers from across the commonwealth gather for education event at Asbury University

WILMORE, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) —Asbury University opened its doors on Wednesday afternoon to high school students, teachers, and community leaders for the Educators Rising event to battle the teacher shortage on Wednesday.

“Teachers change the world,” said David Riel, Clinical Director for the Asbury School of Education, “They’re literally changing lives every day. I was just in the cafeteria with some of our Educators Rising high school participants, and I asked one of them, how’s the day going? And she said to me, this is the best day of my life. And I thought, okay, that’s what we’re trying to do is get people inspired to go out there and change the lives of other people.”

University staff said the goal of Educators Rising is to recruit and encourage future educators not only to study education but to remain involved with local communities after graduation.

Asbury staff called it a “grow-your-own” form of programming that equips local high school students with classroom resources, conferences, and student activities to help raise a skilled generation of educators that reflect the communities they were taught in.

Distinguished guests of the event on Thursday included Ms. Camille Overstreet, Kentucky Department of Education program consultant for Teaching and Learning Pathways and state coordinator for Educators Rising, and Dr. Veda Stewart, Director for Educator Recruitment and Development for the Kentucky Department of Education.

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