Mary Morrison, a 2025 Graduate of Saint Marys High School, recently attended and competed at the 2025 Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The Conference was held on June 26th – 29th at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel & Conference Center. Mary competed in the 2025 Exploring Education Administration Careers: Varsity Level category, where she finished first in the nation, and received a national champion gold medal and certificate.
The Conference brought together 3,500 students from 41 participating states to compete in 28 events, representing middle school, junior varsity - high school, varsity - high school, and collegiate levels. Mary joined 70 other students representing the state of West Virginia. West Virginia had three (3) students finish in the top three (3) and 14 students finish in the top ten (10). Mary was the only 2025 National Champion from the state of West Virginia.
Mary attended the Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute during her sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school, where she was enrolled in the Grow Your Own (GYO) – Future Educators program of study. The GYO program instructor is Mrs. April Redin. As part of the GYO program of study, students have the opportunity to participate in Educators Rising. Mary qualified for the 2025 National Conference by placing first at the 2025 State Conference which was held on March 12th – 14th at Canaan Valley Resort. The GYO program provided Mary the opportunity to spend clinical time in classrooms at Saint Marys and Belmont Elementary Schools.
The Educators Rising - Exploring Education Administration Careers competition category requires the student to shadow and interview a school level administrator, and then develop a high level critical thinking presentation and prepare for answering related questions to the presentation. Mary selected Mrs. Tammy Haught, Principal of Saint Marys Elementary School, to shadow and interview for this competition category.
Congratulations Mary!