Fallston High School students Kennedy Karcher and Adeline Bogert are heading to the National Educators Rising Competition in Oregon after earning top honors at the Maryland state competition. Kennedy placed second and Adeline placed fourth in the Educators Rising Moment event, marking a historic first for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) in its inaugural year of participation.

“These students are paving the way for future educators in Harford County,” said Alyssa King, Fallston High School’s teacher representative for Educators Rising. “Their success reflects not only their hard work and commitment but also the strength of our growing program and the opportunities it creates for students interested in teaching as a career.”

Educators Rising is a national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that prepares students for careers in education. Through professional development, classroom projects, and competitions, students build real-world skills that mirror the work of educators—from creating engaging bulletin boards to delivering speeches about their motivation to teach.

This year marks the first time every HCPS high school has launched its own Educators Rising chapter, a milestone that reflects the district’s commitment to developing the next generation of teachers. The HCPS Educators Rising program is supported in part by a Maryland Department of Labor grant that expands access to career and technical education pathways and promotes workforce development in education.

Kennedy and Adeline will receive additional coaching and be recognized at the upcoming Maryland Educators Rising State Conference before representing Fallston and HCPS on the national stage in Oregon.