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The University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 Future Teacher Conference (FTC) celebrated 10 years of preparing the next generation of educators. What began in 2015 with fewer than 50 participants has grown to more than 500 high school and community college students 10 years later.  

Co-founder and Literacy Education Professor Suzette Youngs, Ph.D., reflected, 鈥淔rom the beginning, our motto has been to start small and do it well. It鈥檚 incredible to see how many students this conference has inspired.鈥�  

In its early years, FTC partnered with the Colorado Teacher Cadet program, an honors-level elective that introduces high school students to teaching while earning college credit. The 2016 conference welcomed 150 students for breakout sessions on special education and early childhood education and a keynote from then-College of Education Dean Eugene Sheehan.  

This year鈥檚 FTC expanded its reach, welcoming two high school students and their principal from Cayo, Belize, through the Belize Education Project. Their participation highlights the conference鈥檚 growing impact and the global demand for well-trained educators.  

Through workshops on early childhood education, special education and rural teaching, to name a few, FTC continues its mission: empowering future teachers with the tools, connections, and inspiration to transform classrooms.   

Congratulations to the Future Teacher Conference鈥�鈥�鈥�and the many students whose teaching journeys began at UNC鈥�鈥�鈥�for reaching this milestone of 10 years. 

Jessica May, 鈥�05, Colorado鈥檚 2024 Teacher of the Year, gives the keynote speech at the 2025 Future Teacher Conference.