Judges' Orientation
Note: ALL competitions require pre-judging of submitted materials well as an on-site component. This is a change from National Educators Rising. Competition and contest updates for the 2025-2026 school year are now available HERE.
Call for Judges
You are cordially invited to be a judge for the 2026 Educators Rising® Virginia State Leadership Conference and Competitive Events. The career and technical student organization (CTSO), Educators Rising®, affords participants the opportunity to showcase what they have they have learned while participating in pre-collegiate education classes and Educators Rising leadership activities.
Competitions are performance-based events in which aspiring educators demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and leadership in education. With a blend of individual and team events, competitions are authentic, engaging opportunities for rising educators to stretch their creativity, commitment, and professionalism. The schedule for the day will also feature a keynote speaker, college admission representatives, best practices roundtables, and the closing awards session. The top ten state award recipients are eligible to represent Virginia and compete at the national conference to be held in Portland, Oregon, June 20 - June 23, 2026.
Your support is needed to make this event a success for the close to 300 Virginia high school students who are expected to attend. We are seeking education and business professionals to volunteer as onsite judges for the state competitions. Recertification points and lunch will be provided. The event will be held, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Glen Allen High School located at 10700 Staples Mill Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060 in Henrico County. Judges will be needed 8 am-1 pm. This email invitation can be shared with others you know who may be interested in this opportunity.
Competitions and contests are listed below.
Note: ALL competitions require pre-judging of submitted materials well as an on-site component. This is a change from National Educators Rising. Competition and contest updates for the 2025-2026 school year are now available HERE.
Junior Varsity and Varsity Competitions:
Contests
Competitions are performance-based events in which aspiring educators demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and leadership in education. With a blend of individual and team events, competitions are authentic, engaging opportunities for rising educators to stretch their creativity, commitment, and professionalism. The schedule for the day will also feature a keynote speaker, college admission representatives, best practices roundtables, and the closing awards session. The top ten state award recipients are eligible to represent Virginia and compete at the national conference to be held in Portland, Oregon, June 20 - June 23, 2026.
Your support is needed to make this event a success for the close to 300 Virginia high school students who are expected to attend. We are seeking education and business professionals to volunteer as onsite judges for the state competitions. Recertification points and lunch will be provided. The event will be held, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Glen Allen High School located at 10700 Staples Mill Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060 in Henrico County. Judges will be needed 8 am-1 pm. This email invitation can be shared with others you know who may be interested in this opportunity.
Competitions and contests are listed below.
Note: ALL competitions require pre-judging of submitted materials well as an on-site component. This is a change from National Educators Rising. Competition and contest updates for the 2025-2026 school year are now available HERE.
Junior Varsity and Varsity Competitions:
- Children’s Literature – K-3 (Individual or Dual)
- Children’s Literature – K-3 Spanish (Individual or Dual)
- Children’s Literature – Pre-K (Individual or Dual)
- Children’s Literature – Pre-K Spanish (Individual or Dual)
- Creative Lecture (TED Talk) (Individual)
- Educators Rising Leadership Award (Individual - Varsity Only)
- Educators Rising Moment (Individual)
- Educators Rising Moment – Spanish (Individual)
- Ethical Dilemma (Team)
- Exploring Education Administration Careers (Individual)
- Exploring Non-Core Subject Teaching Careers (Individual)
- Exploring Support Services Careers (Individual)
- Inside Our Schools Presentation (Team)
- Inside Our Schools Presentation – Spanish (Team)
- Job Interview (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – Arts (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – Career and Technical Education (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – CDA/Early Childhood Education (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – Humanities (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – Professional Development (Team)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – Spanish (Individual)
- Lesson Planning and Delivery – STEM (Individual)
- Outstanding Chapter (Team - Varsity Only)
- Public Service Announcement – Teacher Recruitment (Team)
- Public Speaking (Individual)
- Researching Learning Challenges (Team)
Contests
- Interactive Bulletin Board - Elementary (Individual or Dual)
- Interactive Bulletin Board - Middle/High School (Individual or Dual)
- Project Visualize-Service Project (Individual or Dual)
- Teacher Created Materials (Individual or Dual)