2023 State Conference
Theme: Todos Unidos - Education for All NM
Find below the winners and national qualifiers of the
2023 EdRising NM State Conference held in February 2023
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 1st-5th place is awarded to young competitors across the state who successfully demonstrate education career skillsets to a panel of judges from the field.
This year, 1st and 2nd placements were sponsored to attend the Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, FL by EdRising NM.
Keynote Speakers
This year, we had three keynote guest speakers with breakout sessions and opening or closing sessions to discuss their challenges and successes as educators. Their backgrounds can be found below, as well as in the downloadable program linked above.
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Rick Ramirez
2018 Teacher of the Year - EP
Rick Ramirez was a headlining guest speaker who advocates for the rising of educators through difficult circumstances regarding poverty and cultural misunderstandings about educational attainment through social justice within the school system. He is a former U.S. Marine and was recognized as the 2018 Teacher of the Year for the El Paso School District. He is also recognized for his philanthropy work in raising funds and awareness for local school districts.
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Crissy Lauterbauch
Teaching & Learning Coordinator
Crissy Lauterbauch is an innovative teaching and learning coordinator for Butler Tech in Ohio. She is a 28-year veteran educator. She has spoken for the Department of Defense schools, international future educators association, and the Anthony Munoz Foundation youth summit. She was named a White House innovator for her work in Teacher Academy and Educators Rising.
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Aaron "Sonny" Choneska
Educator & Former EdRising NM Member
Aaron Sonny Choneska is currently an educational assistant at Kennedy Middle School in the intensive global services program. He graduated from NMSU with a bachelors in science and education obtaining through elementary education K-8 language arts. As a Native American male in education who came from an Educators Rising NM chapter with Eldorado High School, Aaron is leading by example to a new generation of future educators overcoming multiple levels of stigma in the career pathway.
Individual Competitions
Children's Literature K-3
1st Place: Danica Angel Hoffman from Carlsbad High School 2nd Place: Kierra Hoover and Sariah Montoya from West Mesa High School National Qualifier: Jaslynn Nieto from Las Cruces High School National Qualifier: Kacie Patton from Career Enrichment Center National Qualifier: Elizabeth Guilliams from Alamogordo High School
Children's Literature K-3
Spanish
1st Place: Maria Cortes and Melissa Cortes from Hatch Valley High School 2nd Place: Destiny Zuniga from Chaparral High School National Qualifier: Gisselle Martinez and Brandon Gomez from Hatch Valley High School National Qualifier: Ashley Hernandez from Aztec High School National Qualifier: America Zamarron from Piedra Vista High School
Creative Lecture
1st Place Tie: Elena Williamson from Los Lunas High School 1st Place Tie: Jakobe Jeudy from Newcomb High School 2nd Place: Rhiannon Keenan from Eldorado High School National Qualifier: Morgan Reed from Eldorado High School National Qualifier: Nix Cortis from Rio Rancho High School National Qualifier: Cailyn Zapien from Santa Teresa High School
Exploring Education Careers
All Categories
1st Place: Aurora Arrieta from Rio Rancho High School 2nd Place: Sophia Carolina Garcia-Hernandez from Santa Teresa High School
Public Speaking w/Spanish
1st Place: Alejandra De La Fuente from Chaparral High School (Spanish) 2nd Place: Angela Cerriteno from Hatch Valley High School National Qualifier: Leo Ford from Alamogordo High School National Qualifier: Demetri Tsosie from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Melanie Patricia Cordova from Clovis High School (Spanish)
Children's Literature Pre-K
w/Spanish
1st Place: Jocelyn Arzola and Luisa Andazola from Santa Teresa High School (Spanish) 2nd Place: Hana Faith Estrada and Emmalee Granger from Carlsbad High School National Qualifier: Angela Ramirez from Santa Teresa High School National Qualifier: Meah Zirwas from Del Norte High School National Qualifier: Mia Besse from Eldorado High School
Job Interview
1st Place Tie: Milisandra Hernandez from Los Lunas High School 1st Place Tie: Maryfyll Alcala Cisneros from Hatch Valley High School 2nd Place: Jonathon Davis from Atrisco Heritage Academy National Qualifier: Scarlet Tvedt from Eldorado High School National Qualifier: Andres Lopez from Carlsbad High School National Qualifier: Andres Lopez from Carlsbad High School
EdRising Moment w/Spanish
1st Place: Andralyn Frag from Aztec High School (Spanish) 2nd Place: Anahi Cazares from Gadsden High School National Qualifier: Arielle Cortes from West Mesa High School (Spanish) National Qualifier: Sofia Lanyate from Atrisco Heritage Academy National Qualifier: Mariel León Lazcano from West Mesa High School (Spanish)
Lesson Planning & Delivery
All Categories
1st Place: Amoreena LaCour from Rio Rancho High School 2nd Place: Kaitlynn Ramsey from Rio Rancho High School National Qualifier: Suzanna Hughes from Centennial High School National Qualifier: Jadzia Murphy from Centennial High School National Qualifier: Daisy Chairez from Hatch Valley High School
Impromptu Speaking
1st Place: Ezekiel Romero from Del Norte High School 2nd Place: Brock Ryan Reynolds from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Madelyn Litschke from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Alexis Browning from Carlsbad High School National Qualifier: Aubrianna Gonzales from Aztec High School
Team Competitions and Contests
Ethical Dilemma
1st Place: Stormie Sanchez, Rachael Torres and Joseph jones from Piedra Vista High School 2nd Place: Phenix Cortis, Melanie Balts, and Chase Schroeder from Rio Rancho High School National Qualifier: Aliana Urioste and Angelo Maechtlen from Del Norte High School National Qualifier: Andralyn Frag, Bailey Clarence, Amaya Wilson, and Madelyn Kaiser from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Sarah Bell, Abegael Bustamante, Leo Ford, and Sarah Dyer from Alamogordo High School
Service Learning Project
State-Specific Rubric
1st Place: Nikole Lobato and Grace Kim from Eldorado High School 2nd Place: Surely Gallegos, Obed Lopez and Arielle Cortez from West Mesa High School 3rd Place: Aliliana Celina Guereca and Jasmine Davis from Atrisco Heritage Academy National Qualifier: Nico Norton, Ashara Cole Flowers and Meah Zirwas from Del Norte High School National Qualifier: Xavier McCoy, Rome Watchman and Genesis Aaragon from Atrisco Heritage Academy
Inside Our Schools
1st Place: Samantha Morales, Maria Santoyo, Daisy Chairez and Marfyll Cisneros from Hatch Valley High School 2nd Place: Angelina McKenzie, Taraja Wright and Samantha Gutierrez from Manzano High School
Research Learning Challenges
1st Place: Melissa Cortes, Maria Cortes, Brandon Gomez, and Gisselle Martinez from Hatch Valley High School
Teacher Recruitment PSA
State-Specific Rubric
1st Place: Brenda Crystal Sanchez, Mariel León Lazcano, and Alexa Ordoñes from West Mesa High School
Interactive Bulletin Board Contest
1st Place: MacKenzie Glenn from Atrisco Heritage Academy 2nd Place: Taylor Coll from Carlsbad High School National Qualifier: Ashley Hernandez from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Brock Ryan Reynolds from Aztec High School National Qualifier: Crusita Valencia and Christina Padilla from Taos High School