March 16, 2025
From Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools
Photos by Robyn Hildebrand
The Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools Teaching Professions satellite program sent 30 students to participate at the 2025 Educators Rising State Conference and represented well after learning that five students will move on to represent the school at the organization’s national conference.
The Educators Rising (EdRising) Ohio State Conference hosts a series of contests and competitions that put students’ abilities to the test in events designed to highlight topics and skills related to the education profession. The event, now in its 34th year, was held at Capital University in nearby Bexley on March 5-6. Five Gahanna Lincoln High School students placed in their respective events to qualify for the EdRising National Conference. Pearl Nimoh (Jr.), Eliza Mercer (Jr.), Sydney Novotny (Jr.), Bobby Ensign (Sr.), and Audrey Gillotte (Sr.) have qualified to compete at the national level in Orlando, Fla., in competitions that will be held between June 25-29.
Collectively, nine Eastland-Fairfield students combined for six top-5 placements, with three additional students placing inside the top-10. Four students participated in and received high rankings in separate contests, including the duo of Mercer and Novotny who earned gold status. A full list of top student placements is listed below.
As a chapter, the Teaching Professions was also designated as an Honors Chapter for the third straight year. The Teaching Professions program is a two-year career technical program designed to prepare the educators of tomorrow with experience in classrooms, internships, field trips, and a curriculum that allows students to develop skills in designing learning environments and classroom management. The Teaching Professions satellite program is located at Gahanna Lincoln High School’s Clark Hall. For more information on the program, visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/Teaching.
Educators Rising State Competition Results
- Pearl Nimoh (Jr., Gahanna Lincoln) – Exploring Administrative Careers, 1st place ^
- Bobby Ensign (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln) and Audrey Gillotte (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln) – Ethical Dilemma, 3rd place ^
- Mia Watkins (Jr., Teays Valley) and Morgan Wiley (Jr., Pickerington North) – Children’s Literature, 4th place
- Macy Nevin (Sr., Pickerington North), Isabella Cessna (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln) and Sadie Lonsbrough (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln) – Researching Learning Challenges, 5th place
- Kenadie Andrasic (Jr., Pickerington North) – Children’s Literature, 5th place
- Halima Wood (class, Gahanna Lincoln) – Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers, Top 10
- Jaymeson Mann (class, Pickerington North) and Kennedy Campbell (Gahanna Lincoln) – Public Service Announcement, Top 10
- Eliza Mercer (Jr., Gahanna Lincoln) and Sydney Novotny (Jr., Gahanna Lincoln) – Interactive Bulletin Board, GOLD^
- Nicole Golden (Jr., Pickerington North) – Interactive Bulletin Board Middle School, SILVER
- Abigail Birkhimer (Jr., Gahanna Lincoln) – Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary School, BRONZE
^ indicates that the individual or team has qualified to participate at Nationals
About Educators Rising
Educators Rising is a career and technical student organization (CTSO) with intra-curricular learning opportunities integrated into existing education and training programs. It is a community-based model, in which chapters at schools feed teacher preparation programs at institutes of higher education with the support of State Departments of Education and local funders and foundations. These entities come together to provide a clear pathway to increase teacher diversity and teacher quality. Educators Rising has a presence in all 50 states and has more than 45,000 members, nationally.
About Eastland-Fairfield
Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools is the seventh-largest career and technical education district, geographically, in the State of Ohio. We serve more than 5,000 students in 16 school districts throughout Franklin, Fairfield and Pickaway counties. Eastland-Fairfield provides more than 35 programs to over 1,600 high school and adult students. The district has two main campuses — Eastland Career Center in Groveport and Fairfield Career Center in Carroll, with satellite locations at four of our associate high schools: Gahanna Lincoln, Groveport Madison, New Albany, and Pickerington North.
Founded in 1969. Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools’ mission is to engage, enrich, and equip students every day in every experience. We prepare students to pursue their life’s next E: Employment, Enlistment, Entrepreneurship, and/or additional Education. Visit us online at www.eastlandfairfield.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn for regular updates, fun content and information.
