Conference Day Info - 2027 Educators Rising Illinois 7th Annual State Conference

Karen Engelmann has been teaching Family and Consumer Sciences at Cobden High School for the past 17 years, where she is known for turning everyday lessons into life-changing moments. Since 2019, she’s led the Educators Rising program, helping future teachers discover their passion and purpose. Her dedication to students and love for teaching earned her the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2025. In addition to teaching at Cobden, Karen is also an adjunct instructor for the School of Education at SIU as well as a member of the Executive Board for Educator Rising Illinois.

Karen believes every student has a gift and every educator has the power to help them find it. This keynote invites future educators to discover their own teaching gift and embrace it as a catalyst for transformation.Through personal reflection, storytelling, and actionable strategies, we’ll explore how to recognize the hidden talents in every student and guide them toward purpose, confidence, and excellence. When teachers know their gift, they become the mirror in which students see their own brilliance.

Students can look forward to connecting with the following colleges about their educator preparation programs as well as educational organizations that will share resources and funding options for future educators.

Illinois State University
Eastern Illinois University
McKendree University
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
#30 Regional Office of Education
DuPage Regional Office
Golden Apple Scholars & Foundation
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
Illinois Education Association Aspiring Educators

If you are a vendor and would like to participate in the Future Educators Fair, please email educatorsrising@ieanea.org for more information or Register Now!

Juliana Urtubey, NBCT is a bilingual, first-generation immigrant, who has worked throughout her career to serve as a mirror for her school community, helping students to be proud of their identities and families, and to acknowledge their strengths and contributions to the community.

Her students gave her the nickname “Ms. Earth” for her efforts to beautify schools and unify the community through murals and gardens. Juliana has coined the term “linguistically gifted” to honor the incredible linguistic gifts of her students and their families.

Ms. Urtubey represented teachers on the cover of People Magazine's 2021 People of Year. She was featured on Telemundo’s 2022 Hispanic Heritage Celebration and was selected as a Mujer Imparable by the network’s initiative to celebrate Latinas who are “breaking barriers and changing the game.”

Juliana was the beloved Ms. Appleberry on the first season of the early childhood learning show, CoCoMelon Classroom. Currently, Juliana is the Director of Curriculum and an instructor with the National Center for Grow Your Own.

Juliana is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona. Ms. Urtubey served proudly on President Biden's Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.