San Angelo ISD Students Inspired to Become Future Educators at Rise & Teach Conference

More than 250 high school students from across Education Region 15 gathered at the 6th Annual Rise and Teach Conference on January 30, an event designed to empower and support the next great generation of Texas educators. 

“We were thrilled to have over 30 school districts participating in this year’s event,” said Martha Saucedo, Education Specialist at ESC Region 15. “The diversity and enthusiasm from each district truly added to the conference’s energy … What truly made this year’s conference shine was the unwavering commitment and passion of the attendees – our keynote speakers, presenters, sponsors, volunteers, advisors, and students.”

Held at Angelo State University, the event provided essential resources to help students successfully transition from high school to higher education, with support from ESC15, ASU, Howard College and local community organizations.

“The collaborative bond between ESC15, ASU, and Howard University is genuinely special,” Ms. Saucedo said. “It takes an enormous amount of time, effort, and heart to make this event happen, and we’re so grateful to be part of such a remarkable team, working together to impact the teaching profession and uplift the next generation of educators in Texas.”

A group of 36 students from Central and Lake View High Schools attended the conference, including Lake View’s TAFE President, Heaven Lopez, who marked her fourth consecutive year. “I really enjoyed this year's Rise and Teach conference and had an amazing time getting to hear stories from current and future educators,” she said. “Having gone to this conference for 4 years, I was really glad to spend my last one getting to hear such amazing advice about the teaching profession and how much it truly means to be an educator.” 

Keynote speaker was Erin Gruwell, a teacher, author and founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation. She inspired students with her message about the transformative power of education and personal storytelling. She encouraged students to "write different stories for themselves," showcasing how education and inspiring teachers can make a significant difference in their lives. Mrs. Gruwell also shared a “where are they now” update on her former students, all of whom earned their bachelor's degrees and returned to the education field to continue making an impact.

“Mrs. Gruwell excels at seeing students that are often overlooked or cast aside and this really resonated with my students,” said Scarlet Rodriguez, who teaches CTE Business, Marketing & Finance instructor at Central High School. “She shared inspiring stories, and her energy was contagious — students left feeling motivated and empowered. It was amazing to hear her talk about the power of education and what it means to be a part of a student’s journey. They were all so eager to meet her, get her to sign our books, and take pictures with her. Definitely a moment they won’t forget!”

Conference attendees also enjoyed a tour of ASU, professional development opportunities for sponsors and advisors, door prizes and breakout sessions. These sessions were tailored to different grade levels: awareness for 10th-graders, exploration for 11th-graders, and engagement for 12th-graders.

“This initiative is an incredible opportunity for our students, and it needs to be expanded throughout the entire state of Texas,” said Ms. Saucedo. “We have to invest in building and nurturing the teaching profession to support the passionate, future educators who will shape tomorrow. The pipeline is not leaking, it has burst and it is up to educational professionals to lead the way by example.”

In addition, three San Angelo ISD students received scholarships to further their education and become future educators:

$500 scholarships funded by H-E-B:

• Gabrielle Hernandez – Central High School
• Heaven Lopez – Lake View High School

$500 scholarship funded by Education Service Center Region 15:

• Alexis Gutierrez – Central High School

For the first time, students from Central and Lake View High Schools participated in panel discussions at the conference. These students, members of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), shared valuable insights with 10th-grade attendees about the organization's opportunities and its impact on their futures in education.

“The most impactful and memorable moment was watching my TAFE officers from both Lake View and Central give a presentation together over our TAFE organizations,” Mrs. Rodriguez said. “It has been my goal to unite the Lake View and Central education and TAFE programs this year. My hope is for them to see themselves as SAISD’s future teachers and each other’s future colleagues. I saw that play out in their fantastic presentation and I couldn’t have been more proud. Their mutual respect and ease with each other showed through and enticed their audience to participate and engage with them. I’m very, very proud of these five young people.”

Heaven Lopez shared that her desire to become a teacher has always been clear to her and that attending the Rise & Teach conferences continues to inspire her passion for education.  “Teaching is something I have always been called to do and there has never been another career that I felt I would ever be as happy with as being a teacher,” Heaven said. “I feel that if I have the ability to help a child know that someone is there and someone cares enough to show up every day to teach them, then that is exactly what I am meant to do with my life.”

Heaven said she has always had a passion for education and knew she wanted to become a teacher. “Teaching is something I have always been called to do and there has never been another career that I felt I would ever be as happy with as being a teacher,” Heaven said. “I feel that if I have the ability to help a child know that someone is there and someone cares enough to show up everyday to teach them, then that is exactly what I am meant to do with my life.” 

Central High School TAFE Vice President Avery Thomas also expressed how the conference cemented her desire to pursue a career in education. She said her passion for education stems from her desire to make learning a fun and exciting experience for students, impacting them so they will be successful. 

“I enjoyed the Rise & Teach Conference this year because I felt like I got closure on my thoughts of becoming a teacher and I truly understand that it is my passion now,” Avery said. “Hearing new teachers who went through the program I am about to head into was really beneficial and I enjoyed getting to hear their different experiences.”

Both Heaven and Avery were particularly moved by Erin Gruwell’s keynote speech, which highlighted the transformative power and rewards of being a dedicated teacher. “Erin Gruwell’s speech was amazing and it stood out to me because it was so inspiring and enjoyable to listen to and I hope to become like her one day,” Avery said. “She describes being a teacher so well and shows the rewards you receive when being a good teacher. Her speech was the main thing that stood out to me during the conference because of the inspiration it gave me to want to be a teacher like that someday.” 

San Angelo ISD extends its heartfelt gratitude to the event organizers, Region XV Education Service Center, Angelo State University, Howard College, H-E-B and other Rise & Teach Conference sponsors. We appreciate your support of the next great Texas educators and their hopes and dreams. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and X.