Last month, the RISE Network gathered for our annual convening, which brought together more than 200 educators from 33 schools across 3 states, and dozens more partners and philanthropic supporters. It was a wonderful day of learning, connection, and inspiration. It was also a moment of collective celebration. For ten years, educators across the growing RISE Network have been working together to ensure all students graduate with a plan and the skills and confidence to achieve college and career success.
Reflecting on “Kids These Days” with Optimism and Determination
RISE Deputy Director of Engagement Peter Lorinser opened the convening by inviting teachers, counselors, on-track coaches and mentors, principals, district officials, and community partners to unpack and reframe the adage, “kids these days.” Lorinser challenged us to transform this age-old lament into a catalyst to critically reflect on the educational experiences of the kids in our lives, including our students, our children, and other young people we know, love, and support. Who are these kids? What does learning look like for them “these days”? What do they need from us to confidently navigate their high school experience and beyond?
Students from RISE Core Network schools shared their heartfelt and inspiring ideas for educators:
“Listen to them. See how problems have changed from your time to now. Build that bond and connection, so [your students] can have a really, really positive four years in high school.”
“This is a really big chapter in their life. When they have someone they can connect to or look to for guidance… it makes them feel more safe at school.”
“My main advice for educators is to please push to teach students self-advocacy. Way, way more students than you know are afraid to speak up. I was scared to ask for help — embarrassed to ask for help. But once I did, I understood and got better grades than ever.”
Fighting Forward For All Young People
RISE Network Operations Specialist Daemond Benjamin then introduced keynote speaker Carlos Ojeda, Jr., founder of CoolSpeak: The Youth Engagement Company, by echoing students’ reflections on the importance of strong, trusting relationships between students and adults who believe in their limitless potential. “Being an educator today is about way more than knowing your content,” Benjamin shared. “It’s about showing up for your students with courage, clarity, and creativity.”
And, oh, did Ojeda exemplify the brave leadership, moral clarity, and entrepreneurial spirit that connects and energizes educators across the RISE Network. By weaving together stories from his youth and passionate reflections on an educator who believed in him and lifted him up, Ojeda reminded us of the tremendous power educators hold to transform our students’ doubt into “the most beautiful dreams they can imagine.”
He reminded us that “students will go where we are willing to lead them,” and encouraged each of us to recommit to showing students the many pathways available to them and to taking concrete steps to make those opportunities readily available — not for some kids, but every single one.
Finally, in reflecting on the roadblocks and moments of struggle he experienced throughout his own youth, Ojeda articulated the transformation he experienced growing up in a multilingual household powered by the firm and loving guidance of his parents. Instead of fighting back, his family showed him how to channel his frustration with the status quo and passion for social justice to fight forward — for himself and other underestimated young people. He called on us to do so, too.
Educators’ reactions to this electrifying session speak to the importance of holding an asset-based mindset about young people and, once again, the centrality of strong, affirming relationships:
“Carlos was amazing! He really hit home with how our words matter. Small actions can have a large impact. It’s educators’ responsibility to lift students up and encourage them no matter what.”
“His message about not putting students in a box and supporting them to define themselves and their pathways really resonated with me. I think that’s how we can maximize the potential of every kid who walks through our doors.”
“We have to put students and the student perspective first. The connections students have with caring adults is and must continue to be a top priority.”
“Teachers change children’s lives. It’s a cliche because it’s true. And we should never forget it.”
“Kids are far more self-aware than they sometimes let on. Building relationships over time enables us to be direct and honest, but also kind. A kid knows when they’re not succeeding. They’re looking for a way to move forward. We can be the lifeline they need.”
Debunking the Eureka! Myth and Unleashing Educators Unshakable Drive to Improve
Ojeda closed a lively Q&A by reminding educators that “persistence beats resistance,” a clarion call to embrace the struggles inherent in continuous improvement. His reflections reinforced another important takeaway from the opening sessions: that transformative changes, in our schools and society, are rarely the result of so-called eureka moments. In reality, the improvements that matter most for students are the result of what comes after the epiphany. It’s the steady, relentless efforts of educators working alongside one another — and in partnership with students and families — to keep getting better at getting better.
The breakout sessions that followed gave educators opportunities to hear from and find inspiration in the various improvement approaches of like-minded educators:
“It’s great to see how another place tackles similar issues. The presenters’ concrete examples and stories of implementation at their schools were incredibly insightful.”
“I really appreciated the sharing of real-life strategies and the emphasis on promoting adult connections to better support student success.”
“Presenters focused on what students ARE doing well and their gains. They reminded me that we have to communicate with students and families our positive reflections and specific actions that will help move them forward.”
“I was reminded that shame is not a motivator for students. We need to celebrate the small wins often.”
“I love hearing from other schools on new ways to engage with students. I always come away with something new from these gatherings.”
Indeed, participants shared a number of actionable takeaways that they plan to implement with their students and school communities, reflecting a range of Grade 9 On-Track and Postsecondary Success drivers:
“Excellent session!! So many turnkey ideas we can implement!! As a next step, we’re going to code the reasons for absences and address them with targeted rather than standardized solutions. A bank of Parent Square messages will help us quickly reach students and notify families in a warm, personalized way. And we really like the idea of checking in with the students when they return to show them that you missed them.”
“Our team is really motivated to incorporate the focus on Grade 9 On-Track into our work. We want to do a better job providing structured support during this important transition year.”
“We’re going to incorporate the outcomes v. effort reflection charts into our advisories.”
“I loved the check-in/check-out form! Can’t wait to start using it.”
“We are committed to initiating postsecondary conversation in a lower pressure way in ninth and tenth grades. By starting the conversation earlier, they can take classes, test things out, and we can build interest, excitement, and momentum around their postsecondary plans. You have 720 days of high school, how do you want to spend it?”
“We are implementing the SAT/PSAT prep classes for next year. It was great to hear from a principal on how that’s been going for their school, including challenges they’ve been working through and what they’re doing differently next year. I also loved hearing the students’ perspectives!”
“The session was great and we got super useful and implementable strategies. Panelists’ insights will help us build our capacity to support students with two-year college plans or stepping right into their career. I especially loved the idea of on-track conferences for students interested in trades and workforce.”
“We’re going to start earlier with the FAFSA and financial aid help, and work to embed it into our postsecondary culture. I need to learn more about specific scholarships to share with students in class (and, as a science teacher, relate them to STEM career opportunities). Parent info sessions can and should be virtual, in-person, and pre-recorded.”
“We are going to do a Senior Signing Day to celebrate all of our students’ postsecondary plans!”
“We need to move the goalpost — it’s graduation and what comes next. If we’re not having these holistic conversations with our students, who is?”
Continuing to Improve During the Next Ten Years (and Beyond)
To conclude the 2025 RISE Annual Convening, Co-Founder and Executive Director Emily Pallin reflected on the growth and improvement of our incredible network of school partners. What began in 2016 with five partner schools in one state serving 5,000 students has now grown into a movement that is 60-school-partners strong and making a difference for more than 40,000 students in six states.
As our partnerships have grown, the dynamic team powering RISE Network supports has, too. Our relationships have both expanded and deepened. Our data capabilities have become ever more sophisticated and user-friendly. And the educator-led innovations at the heart of our improvement model continue to flourish.
The results of our collective efforts are remarkable. Eighty percent of Grade 9 students across the RISE Network were on-track at the end of last school year, and 99 percent graduated with a postsecondary plan — each representing double-digit gains for students in the Class of 2025 compared to 2016.
This impressive data reflects a more important and profound truth: “kids these days” are extraordinary. They are thoughtful, bold, and deeply aware. They care about impact, equity, and authenticity. They are creative, resilient, and ready to lead. They are not the problem — they are the possibility.
Educators in the RISE Network are all of these things, too.
“Ten years from now, someone will stand in a room just like this, and they’ll talk about what we did from 2026 to 2036,” shared RISE Chief of Network Success Nichelle Woodson at the end of our 10th anniversary celebration. “They’ll talk about the mentors we trained. About the students we followed into and through postsecondary. And about the strategic and thoughtful risks we took and the student lives that changed because we took them.”
As we reflect on the past ten years and look ahead to the next decade, we are excited, honored, and grateful to be walking alongside the brilliant, visionary dreammakers and changemakers across our partner schools.
| JOIN US! Ready to promote on-track achievement, engagement, on-time high school graduation, and postsecondary access and opportunity for all students, and not sure where to start? Connect with our team to explore which of our professional learning opportunities, including our Convenings, Symposiums, and Focus Networks, could be the right fit to help you reach your goals. |