WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Over 150 eighth through 12th grade students and their advisors from 12 area school districts attended the second annual Missouri Educators for Tomorrow’s Schools (MoETS) conference held March 28 on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.

MoETS is an effort by faculty and staff in the Teacher Education Completion Program of the Missouri State University Outreach Program at Missouri State-West Plains to rebuild future teacher organizations at area school districts and promote the future of the educational profession through communication and cooperation of members, promoting chapter growth, providing annual organizational meetings, and sharing educational activities and projects that connect higher education and the local community, organizers said.

“We created MoETS to assist area schools in organizing chapters for eighth through 12th grade students who were interested in education as a career,” said Jane Ward, an instructor in the Teacher Education Completion Program.  “The area school chapters elect their own officers and are encouraged to be involved in school and community service projects.  The conference allows them to come together for a day and gain additional information into a career as a future educator in public schools.”

At the March 28 conference, students had the opportunity to attend three of 12 educational workshops offered, all of which provided students with insight into different roles of the professional educator.

In addition, MoETS chapters from Alton and Koshkonong were recognized for outstanding public involvement, and regional MoETS officers for the coming year were elected.  They include Austin Harris, Dora School, president; Jena Woodside, Alton School, vice president; Ashlyn Hufstedler, Alton School, secretary; Jordyn Edwards, Alton School, senior representative; and Jolee Powers, Richards School in West Plains; middle school representative.

For more information about the Teacher Education Completion Program or MoETS, call 417-255-7930.