Students discover the impact of teaching at DSU Educators Rising Learning Expo

October 8, 2026

MADISON, S.D. - A record crowd of middle and high school students from across South Dakota gathered at Dakota State University on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to explore careers in education during the annual Educators Rising Learning Expo.

The event introduced students to the teaching profession through interactive sessions, conversations with educators and future teachers, and opportunities to learn about DSU's teacher education programs.

"On behalf of Dakota State University, welcome," said Dr. David DeJong, dean of the College of Education & Human Performance, during the opening session. "We are glad that you are here, and we're glad that you're spending your day with us."

DeJong told attendees that advances in educational research, technology, and artificial intelligence make this an exciting time to consider becoming a teacher. He encouraged students to think about a teacher who had made a difference in their lives and recognize that they could have the same influence on future generations.

"We all have those people who have impacted our lives, and that's what you can do for other people," DeJong said. "Today, we hope that you learn more about teaching, fall in love with it, get to know students from other schools, and get to know the professors here."

DeJong also highlighted pathways that allow students to gain experience working with children while preparing for careers in teaching, including DSU's Teacher Assistant Pathway (TAP) and Paraprofessional Apprenticeship Pathway. Students receive on-the-job training and build foundational knowledge toward an education degree, creating a clear on-ramp into the teaching profession.

Becky Haenfler, the 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, delivered the event's keynote presentation. Haenfler is a middle school English language arts teacher at Avon Public Schools, where she teaches in the same classroom that helped inspire her to become an educator.

Haenfler told students that attending an Educators Rising event inspired her to help establish a chapter in Avon. Looking across the audience at DSU, she said she saw more than middle- and high-school students.

Becky Haenfler, the 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, speaks at the Educators Rising event.

"I'm also seeing a bunch of future teachers, and that's pretty awesome to think about the future of education in South Dakota and how we're in such good hands," Haenfler said.

Using an adventure theme, Haenfler organized her presentation around three words: explore, lead, and inspire. She encouraged students to explore different teaching environments, age groups, and subject areas without feeling pressured to have their entire careers planned.

"You don't have to see your entire future in teaching," she said. "You just have to take the first step."

Haenfler also reminded students they don't need to wait until they enter a classroom to begin developing as leaders. They can volunteer, work with younger students, take on unfamiliar challenges, and become people others can depend on.

"Leadership doesn't have to be big and loud," she said. "You don't have to be the loudest in the room. You just have to show up for somebody."

Drawing on her 19 years in education, Haenfler emphasized that effective teaching begins with knowing students and building strong relationships. Lessons and plans will not always unfold as expected, she said, but the connections teachers form with students can have a lasting impact.

"The most important thing in anything that you do is building your relationships," Haenfler said. "In your classroom, it's going to be the same way. You have to build that relationship first."

Following the opening session, students selected from three rounds of interactive breakout sessions led by DSU faculty members, current students, and area educators. Topics included supporting multilingual learners, early literacy, classroom engagement, special education, kinesthetic learning, science education, coaching, vocabulary instruction, and lessons about teaching found in popular movies.

Members of the DSU Educators Rising Club also hosted activities and answered questions about education majors, classes, campus involvement, college life, and becoming a teacher. The day concluded with lunch, campus tours, and information from DSU Admissions.

Haenfler closed by asking participants to consider how today's future educators could one day become the teachers who inspire another generation to enter the profession.

"A teacher built a fire for you," she said. "Go explore, be a leader, and work on inspiring those around you."

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