Youth Engagement
Young people play an important role in shaping the future of teaching in Minnesota.
Through leadership opportunities, storytelling, advocacy, and career exploration, Elevate Teaching engages youth in conversations about the teaching profession and empowers them to become champions for change. Explore the initiatives below to learn how youth are contributing to the movement and how you can get involved.
Youth as Champions
Youth as Champions (YAC) is an asynchronous learning program engaging high school and college-aged youth from diverse backgrounds and communities across Minnesota. Participants explore the importance of a diverse teacher workforce, learn about movement building, and develop skills to create impactful social media content that elevates the teaching profession.
Get Involved: Youth as Champions cohorts will continue through 2027. Youth-led and youth-serving organizations are encouraged to contact us to explore opportunities for their youth to participate. Participants receive a stipend for their contributions.
Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council brings together young people to share their experiences as students, contribute to research, and help shape messaging that inspires their peers to consider teaching.
Council members meet virtually for approximately 3–5 hours per month to develop recommendations for educators and influencers, and explore advocacy strategies. Participants receive a stipend for their contributions.
Get Involved: Interested in joining or connecting youth with the Council? Contact us to learn more.
Youth Key Message Kit
Developed from Elevate Teaching's original Key Message Kit, the Youth Key Message Kit features messages created by young people, for young people. Informed by youth perspectives and experiences, these messages help inspire conversations about the value and impact of the teaching profession.
Explore the Resource: Access the Youth Key Message Kit to help share and amplify youth voices.
MN STEM Project
The MN STEM Project grew out of the Smithsonian STEM Teacher Diversity Project Summit in 2023, where educators from across the country developed strategies to attract and retain STEM teachers from underrepresented populations.
Through collaborative action planning and systems change, the Minnesota team is working to diversify the STEM teaching workforce and expand leadership opportunities for educators from diverse backgrounds.
Get Involved: Interested in supporting STEM educators and inspiring the next generation of diverse STEM leaders? Contact John Olson at john.olson@metrostate.edu.
Be a Teacher, Change the World
Since 2023, the annual Be a Teacher, Change the World event at Anoka-Ramsey Community College has introduced hundreds of high school students to careers in education. Through interactive workshops, keynote speakers, and teacher journey panels, students explore the possibilities and impact of becoming a teacher.
Youth Story Circles
Elevate Teaching's Story Circles bring people together to share experiences, reflect on the impact of teaching, and explore opportunities for change. These small-group conversations, typically involving 8–10 participants, create space for storytelling, connection, healing, and collective problem-solving.
Youth Story Circles have played an important role in shaping Elevate Teaching's work. Stories and perspectives shared by young people have helped inform both the original Six Key Messages and the Youth Key Message Kit.
Get Involved: Interested in hosting a Youth Story Circle? Contact us to learn more.