Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition Holds Second Youth in Education Summit at Temple University
250 high school students explore careers in teaching and strengthen Philadelphia’s educator pipeline
On Thursday, October 29, 250 students from more than ten Philadelphia public district and charter schools attended the second annual Philadelphia Youth in Education Summit at Temple University. The theme of the summit this year was Our Voices. Our Future: Reimagining Education in Philadelphia, which aimed to equip students with the proper resources in their pursuit of becoming an educator. The summit included interactive workshops, opportunities to build peer connections, and presentations by local and regional education leaders.
“Teachers change lives, strengthen our communities and help build our city’s future. Few careers offer that kind of purpose and fulfillment,” said Dr. Debora Carrera, Chief Education Officer for the City of Philadelphia. “It’s inspiring to see so many student leaders stepping up to become the next generation of educators, and the Parker Administration is committed to helping them get there.”
The student attendees of the summit are currently enrolled in Career & Technical Education (CTE) and other pipeline programs focused on the teaching profession. Participating schools included: Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, Central High 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, as well as students from other schools who participate in the Astute Network Partners, Temple Education Scholars and Asian Americans United Youth Programming.
“Many of Philadelphia’s future potential teachers are students in our schools, and we have an opportunity to help them see teaching as a rewarding career that’s within reach,” said Scott Gaiber, Deputy Chief of Talent Initiatives at Elevate 215. “By connecting students with educators and opportunities to explore the profession, we’re helping create a pipeline of homegrown talent that understands our communities and can help shape the future of Philadelphia’s classrooms.”
The event was made possible through the efforts of a planning committee that included participating schools and representatives from the following organizations: Mayor’s Office of Education; Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; CREATE in Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development; School District of Philadelphia; Mastery Schools; Pan American Charter School; Center for Black Educator Development; Pennsylvania Education Diversity Consortium; Holy Family University; Philadelphia Regional Institute for STEM Educators (PRISE); and Breakthrough Greater Philadelphia.
“One of our goals is to make teaching in Philadelphia an attractive and attainable career for the next generation,” said Cheryl Lafferty, Senior Director, Strategy, Development, & Impact at Philadelphia Academies, Inc. and Chair of the Summit’s Planning Committee. “That means introducing students to the profession early, helping them see the impact they can have as educators, particularly educators of color, and providing the support they need to see themselves building a career right here in our city. The experiences and relationships students gain today can open doors to opportunities they may not have imagined before.”
The Summit reflects a citywide commitment to inspiring the next generation of educators to change classrooms, communities, and the future. Together, the Coalition members are advancing a shared vision to make Philadelphia a better place to learn, teach, and lead—ensuring every student has access to opportunities and resources that help them excel.
