Philadelphia’s Future Educators Gather for City’s First Youth in Education Summit
Nearly 250 high school students explore careers in teaching and strengthen Philadelphia’s educator pipeline
Philadelphia, PA [October 30, 2025] – Today, nearly 250 high school students from nine Philadelphia schools gathered at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development for the city’s inaugural Philadelphia Youth in Education Summit (#PhillyYES)—a day celebrating Philadelphia’s next generation of educators and the partnerships preparing them to be future leaders in the classroom.
The Summit—organized through the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition (“Coalition”) and hosted by Temple’s Center for Reimagining Excellence, Access and Transformation in Education (CREATE)—marks a milestone moment for the city’s collaborative efforts to grow a diverse, homegrown educator workforce.
“The young people joining us at the Philadelphia Youth in Education Summit represent the future of our schools and our city,” said Penny Nixon, superintendent of schools for Universal Education Companies, and Michael Farrell, chief learning officer for the School District of Philadelphia, in a joint statement on behalf of the Coalition. “Their passion for teaching reminds us why we must continue investing in programs that nurture and guide aspiring educators. These high school pathways are not only preparing the next generation of teachers—they are cultivating young leaders who believe in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities across Philadelphia.”
Convened by Elevate 215, the Coalition brings together more than 50 partners across K-12, higher education, nonprofits, and government to recruit, prepare, and retain high-quality educators in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Growing Educator Pipeline
Students attending the Summit are enrolled in teacher pathway and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs focused on K–12 education. Across the nine participating schools, these state-approved or developing programs give students the chance to earn college credit, complete teaching apprenticeships, and learn directly from mentor educators—building real-world experience and a strong foundation for future teaching careers.
Participating schools include: Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, El Centro Big Picture High School, Esperanza Academy Charter School, Imhotep Institute Charter High School, Mastery Charter School Lenfest, Olney High School, Parkway West High School, Science Leadership Academy (SLA) @ Beeber and Vaux Big Picture High School.
At SLA @ Beeber, for example, students can earn up to eight college courses’ worth of credit, design and teach their own mini-courses, and learn from mentor teachers—experiences that affirm their identities as future educators and community leaders.
Alden Page, a senior at SLA @ Beeber stated: "Community. Empowerment. Social Integrity. It helps me decode my education and the educators that I work with. It is so much easier for me to find the hidden curriculum in my classes and my life. We are also learning how to learn through and with others. When engaging with other people, you learn to adapt to their skills—I've become much more flexible and adaptable."
Learning, Leading, and Launching Futures
Throughout the day, students participated in workshops and panels highlighting the many pathways and possibilities within the education profession. Breakout sessions on a variety of topics, including:
- STEM Education and Social Justice
- Organizing for Change
- Speak Up: Amplifying Student Voice in the Classroom
- Learning about experiences of BIPOC educators in and out of the classroom
A Collaborative Commitment to Philadelphia’s Future
The Summit was supported by Temple’s Pennsylvania Department of Education Educator Workforce Grant, managed by CREATE under the leadership of Juliet Curci, assistant dean of college access and persistence.
“This was a celebration,” said Juliet Curci. “The Summit gave high school students the chance to feel energized from being in community with their peers and affirmed by city and school leaders. They left knowing that they are wanted and needed in this profession.”
The Summit reflects a citywide commitment to inspiring the next generation of educators and ensuring every student has access to teachers who represent and believe in them. Together, the Coalition and Temple University are advancing a shared vision to make Philadelphia the best place to learn, teach, and lead.