Story originally posted on March 10, 2025

Seven students from the Hollenstein Career and Technology Center’s (HCTC) Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) chapter are advancing to the national competition after excelling at the Texas Teach Tomorrow Summit. The state competition, held in February in Galveston, showcased the skills and passion of future educators from across Texas.

The students earned their place at state after strong performances at the area competition in December at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Their success at the state competition means they will now represent EMS ISD at the Educators Rising National Conference in June in Orlando, Florida.

A Journey of Dedication and Growth

The students in TAFE are part of the Education and Training Pathway at HCTC, and throughout the school year they participate in meetings, fundraising and community activities, but their primary focus is on competition. Students choose events that challenge them in areas such as job interviews, lesson planning and instructional material creation.

“We work for months to prepare,” said Breslyn Tremaine, a Boswell High School junior. "It all starts at the area competition, and then those who qualify move on to state. Competing at state was an incredible experience. There were breakout sessions, networking opportunities and a lot of chances to learn from others.”

At the competition, students presented their projects, which included teacher-created materials, interactive bulletin boards, and children’s literature. They also participated in impromptu lesson planning, where they had just 20 minutes to develop a lesson based on a randomly assigned Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standard.

“I created a book that teaches age-appropriate developmental skills for three and four-year-olds,” said Amarely Lorenzo, a Boswell senior. “I wrote and illustrated "Susie’s Book of Friendship," printed it professionally, and presented it to judges as if they were Pre-K students. It was a great experience.”

For Ra'myla Boyd, a Boswell senior, the competition was a test of skill and confidence.

“I competed in the interactive bulletin board event,” she said. “It was stressful at first, but after practicing so much, I felt more prepared. The judges were interactive and supportive. When I saw my name listed as a national qualifier, I couldn’t believe it. We all started screaming. It was such a great moment.”

The Path to Nationals

While the competition is both intense and exciting, the skills gained through the experience benefit the students well after competition season is over.

“These students worked incredibly hard,” Lindsey Metz, the Education Training teacher and TAFE sponsor, said. “They created lesson plans and instructional materials just as they would in a real classroom. Beyond that, they gained confidence, improved their speaking skills, and developed a deeper passion for education. Whether they remember every detail of their project years from now or not, the skills they’ve built will help them in college, job interviews and student teaching.”

The EMS ISD students who will compete at the Educators Rising National Competition include:

• Ra'myla Boyd, Boswell High School, 12th Grade – Varsity Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary

• Destiny Corner, Boswell High School, 11th Grade – Varsity Project Visualize TRAFLES

• Kaylee Higgs, Saginaw High School, 11th Grade – Varsity Educators Rising Moment

• Amarely Lorenzo, Boswell High School, 12th Grade – Varsity Teacher Created Materials

• Molly Muldowney, Chisholm Trail High School, 12th Grade – Varsity Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary

• Amelia Stanley, Boswell High School, 12th Grade – Varsity Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary & Varsity Lesson Planning and Delivery Humanities

• Breslyn Tremaine, Boswell High School, 11th Grade – Varsity Teacher Created Materials

"It was something we could all celebrate," Boyd said. "Everyone was so nervous, and then we all saw that we had made it, so it was a group accomplishment. This is the largest number of EMS ISD students to go to nationals since we began competing in TAFE." 

And there is another unique aspect of the team from HCTC that Boyd believes drove their success.

"We all actually came and wanted to win this. We all want a career in the education field and not everyone at the competition does. So, I think we did so well because we are passionate about this. This is our future."

We are #EMSproud of these HCTC education training students, and are excited for them to represent EMS ISD at the national competition in Florida in June.

About TAFE

The Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) is a statewide nonprofit organization that allows students to explore the teaching profession. Established in 1984, TAFE provides high school and middle school students with opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in education. Sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, TAFE is governed by a board of directors consisting of teachers, students, and principals.