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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomed approximately 400 high school students and visiting Illinois legislators on Tuesday, Nov. 18, for the fourth annual Future Teacher Conference, a signature outreach effort designed to inspire the region’s next generation of educators. Hosted by the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), the event combined student-led panels, hands-on breakout sessions and an energizing keynote from Monet Webster, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School principal and Belleville District 118 director of belonging and community engagement.

The day opened with a welcome from Victor Gomez, PhD, who encouraged students to explore the many ways SIUE supports future educators and to imagine how their strengths could translate into meaningful careers in the classroom. In the morning sessions, students rotated through three breakout blocks featuring topics including special education, effective communication, virtual professional practice labs, classroom community, teacher preparation pathways and student and teacher panels offering firsthand perspectives.

SIUE leaders Provost Denise Cobb, PhD, and SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, opened the keynote in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom with a unified message about the importance of exploring teaching as a meaningful career. They encouraged the high school students to take advantage of on-site admission support, financial aid guidance and faculty-led sessions designed to help them imagine themselves in the profession. Their remarks set the stage for an afternoon centered on belonging, purpose and student success.

Illinois legislators Assistant Majority Leader Jay C. Hoffman, who represents the 113th District, and Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip Katie Stuart, who represents the 112th District, visited campus for the event and stayed through the luncheon keynote, while State Representative for the 114th District Kevin Schmidt attended breakfast. Their presence highlighted the state’s commitment to strengthening the teacher pipeline and supporting students who aspire to serve Illinois classrooms.

“If we want the Metro East to thrive, we need to recruit and retain quality teachers who want to take root in our community,” said Hoffman. “These individuals aren’t just thinking about a career, they want to invest in our community and our future. They are the next generation of leaders who are going to make a difference for countless children, and we should responsibly invest in them and provide the support they need to succeed.”

“The conference is a great way to help our high schoolers make important decisions about their future, and to learn more about the education programs at SIUE,” said Stuart. “I was lucky to attend some great sessions and see so many aspiring teachers get the opportunity to learn more about being in the classroom and how a program like the one at SIUE can prepare them for an amazing future.”

The luncheon keynote was delivered by Monet Webster, the Illinois Principals Association Southwestern Region Principal of the Year. Webster challenged students to understand the responsibility and privilege of standing at the front of a classroom.

“Your words are a superpower,” said Webster. “You will speak life into students’ lives or you will diminish their dreams. There is no gray area.”

Through stories of her own path to education, Webster emphasized the importance of building classroom communities grounded in trust, connection and belonging. She encouraged students to reflect on the impact educators had on their own lives, to cultivate supportive networks and to practice self-care as they pursue careers rooted in service.

“Every day is a chance to change a life,” said Webster. “Be the teacher you needed when you were a student.”

Throughout the conference, students explored on-site admissions resources and met with representatives from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Andy Benoit, EdD, underscored SIUE’s commitment to making higher education accessible, noting the University awards more than $250 million in federal, state and institutional aid each year and offers direct support to students pursuing education degrees.

For many attendees, the event provided a clear sense of possibility. Alton High School senior Zoey Baca-Neri attended the conference as she weighs options in social work, mental health advocacy and early childhood pathways.

“SIUE has a good social work program,” said Baca-Neri. “I have a better idea of the campus and the people who teach and go here. It helped me understand what the programs are like and how supportive everyone is.”

Dean Hughes noted that the conference continues to grow each year, reflecting the excitement and curiosity of high school students exploring education careers.

“Watching students light up when they imagine themselves leading a classroom is incredibly powerful,” said Hughes. “They are already standing ten toes down for their futures. Our role is to walk alongside them and provide every tool we can to help them succeed.”

As students left the Meridian Ballroom clutching book bags, session notes and new connections, the energy was a steady and hopeful reminder that the work of building future teachers begins long before stepping into a college classroom. For a day at SIUE, the seeds of that future were taking root.

PHOTOS: (1) (top to bottom, left to right) conference participants, Victor Gomez, SIUE Student Panelists, Tron Young, EdD, breakout session, conference participants, Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, Group of Illinois legislators and educators Andy Benoit, EdD, Provost Denise Cobb, PhD, Rep. Katie Stuart, Emma Pieper, Rep. Jay Hoffman. (2) Zoey Baca-Neri