UW Trustees Education Initiative Joins Educators Rising Network

The University of Wyoming’s effort to create a new pipeline of future educators has taken a step forward, as UW’s Trustees Education Initiative (TEI) has become a state affiliate of the national organization Educators Rising.

That will allow TEI to offer funding and other support to Wyoming school districts for local Educators Rising chapters.

Educators Rising cultivates highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path to becoming accomplished teachers, beginning in high school and extending through college and into the profession.

TEI’s designation as a state affiliate kicks off the first phase of the UW Enterprise for Elevating Educational Excellence (UW-E4). In that role, TEI seeks to support Wyoming school district chapters of Educators Rising by funding a stipend for each local chapter adviser and providing the fees for student member access to the EdRising Academy Curriculum and Educators Rising Microcredentials.

TEI is able to provide this funding support to Wyoming schools, educators and students, in part, through a grant from the Daniels Fund.

Educators Rising provides student members with opportunities to experience teaching and to build the skills they need to be successful educators. Educators Rising offers resources and opportunities that integrate directly into the academic programs of “teacher academy” career and technical education courses at the high-school level.

By joining Educators Rising, those leading or participating in school-based programs that help young people explore teaching are connected to more than 45,000 members across the country.

These aspiring educators and their mentors connect and deepen their learning through the EdRising Virtual Campus, a cutting-edge online community that offers rigorous resources to support the development of great teachers. Opportunities for students and teachers range from national competitions that allow rising educators to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and leadership in education to a customizable curriculum that fits any teacher leader’s needs.

Wyoming school district educators and leaders with an interest in forming local Educators Rising chapters are encouraged to email TEI Executive Director Rebecca Watts at rwatts3@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-5461.

The Board of Trustees created the TEI in 2014 to develop innovative and modern methods to ensure UW prepares effective educators for Wyoming.