A Decade of Rising Educators

On May 6, 2025, on a day when Americans are celebrating the impact of teachers, PDK International’s leadership and board chair and chair-elect convened in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the ten years of PDK’s career and student organization, Educators Rising. The mission of PDK International, approved by our board in October 2024, is to inspire and grow current and rising educators to become community leaders and advocates for high quality education. We care deeply about supporting educators and helping today’s middle and high school students find their calling to become tomorrow’s educators.

PDK International acquired the Future Educators Association in 1994 and re-branded it as Educators Rising in 2015, with plans to invest in the quality and impact of this long-standing organization that was founded as Future Teachers of America in 1937. Today, students who participate in our program develop leadership skills, learn through clinical experiences on how to teach students, and through coursework and chapter activities, learn about the full gamut of career options available in today’s public schools.

PDK is thankful to all the representatives in congress who have thus far supported the resolution celebrating our decade of service to the field as Educators Rising. During the week of May 5-9, 2025, is the most appropriate time for us to celebrate our impact as we simultaneously offer our gratitude to the over 1,200 teacher leaders who have stepped up to the plate to inspire their students to consider their skills, interests, and professional calling. Thank you to our partners, friends, to our students, and their families, for helping us make Educators Rising what it is today—a powerful movement that proves that there’s power in teaching.

PDK is focused on cultivating student interest in the teaching profession through Educators Rising. We encourage our members and chapters to help your communities build a strong pipeline of future teachers by connecting us with your districts and their stakeholders, state partners, institutes of higher education, and funding sources such as foundations or chambers of commerce.