Stepping up onto stage, senior Payton Steensma’s caramel, speckled eyes are wide open and bright as her voice rings out full of passion. She delivers a speech to an audience of over 400 people; this ultimately changed the course of her life.

After an extensive process, consisting of turning in an application, a presentation and being interviewed, the delegates voted for Steensma and three others.

Steensma’s title is Educators Rising State President. Her officer team consists of Megan Peklo as the Vice President of Membership, Elizabeth Soriano as the Vice President of Communications and Carmel Notorio as the Secretary. Steensma and Soriano also represents the organization nationally via social media as a National Ambassador.

Educators Rising is an United States organization that strives to continue growing, training, and supporting future educators. Like-minded students from all over the country come together to share ideas with each other. The national organization also opens up lots of opportunities including scholarships.

During the State and National conferences they discuss issues in the schooling system and ways to fix them in order to better the future of education. Her duties include helping assign tasks and help plan conferences and events.

Her dream to become a teacher all started back in elementary school when Steensma was inspired by Matthew Naylor, her third grade teacher. While most little kids wanted to grow up and become firefighters, veterinarians and princesses, Steensma stuck with teaching.

“When I was little I would go home and bribe my brother with old Halloween candy to play school with me,” Steensma said. “I would print off sheets of homework for him to do while I pretended to teach to the rest of my imaginary class.”

When high school came around more opportunities for student teaching opened up. At 15, Steensma was accepted into the Education Academy that is offered at Millard West, which eventually led her to Educators Rising. Now she is a member of both, and works part time at a daycare; all leading her up the path of success.

Beth Rips, an academy teacher, has been watching Steensma on the sidelines grow in her personality and career at the same time.

“Last year as a junior, she became very involved in the organization and established a presence as someone who wanted to be involved in the organization in a leadership position,” Rips said.

Currently, the state officers want to make Nebraska Educators Rising bilingual, in order to be more welcoming to the different backgrounds of people coming into the schools. They just finished creating their first English and Spanish form.

“We want to increase membership by reaching out to the private schools. We want to open up to them, because together we are stronger.” Steensma said. “Our ultimate goal is to grow in as many ways as possible.”

Attending a public school all of her life, Steensma also believes that they don’t get the attention they deserve and wants to see them get more funding.

Looking forward to the future, Steensma also recognizes the past. The schooling system has come a long way since the beginning, and she wants to contribute to helping to move in the right direction.

“As of last year Nebraska Educators Rising had nine chapters and now we have 25,” Steensma said.

Currently, Steensma plans on going to college to finish her schooling at a University in Nebraska.

“I am passionate about education, and one day I hope to be just like Dr. Sutfin,” Steensma said.

She is going to major in Elementary Education, and have a minor in Early Childhood Development. Eventually, Steensma wants to get her degree in Administration.