Published on March 16, 2026
Note: Registration for this event is full. The purpose of this media advisory is to inform members of the media of this unique opportunity to speak to educational leaders and future educators.
Current and future educators from across the region will gather at John A. Logan College on Wednesday, March 18, for the 2026 SEE (Seeing Educators Emerge) Conference, a free, day-long event designed to inspire and support the next generation of teachers.
This year’s conference theme, “The Mirror in the Classroom,” focuses on the importance of representation in education and ensuring that students see themselves reflected in the educators who guide them. The event also highlights the critical need to recruit and support more male educators—particularly male educators of color—while celebrating those already making a positive impact in classrooms.
The conference will feature keynote presentations, breakout sessions, student competitions, and a rookie teacher panel. Participants will include high school and college education students, teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals pursuing teacher certification through Grow Your Own pathways.
Media are invited to attend and speak with current educators, aspiring teachers, and conference presenters about the future of education and efforts to diversify and strengthen the teaching workforce.
What: SEE (Seeing Educators Emerge) Conference
Theme: The Mirror in the Classroom
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; conference runs through 2:30 p.m. REGISTRATION IS FULL
Where: John A. Logan College, Carterville, Illinois (Ivey, Tarvin, Batteau, and Crisp rooms)
Silvestre Arcos
Keynote Address: “In Lak’ech: Identity, Representation, and the Teachers Our Students Deserve”
Víctor Gómez – 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year
Lunch Keynote: “The Journey of la Mariposa Monarca”
Gómez is a bilingual chemistry teacher at East Leyden High School in Leyden High School District 212. A sixth-year educator and Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year, he is recognized statewide for advancing bilingual education. Gómez helped develop East Leyden’s bilingual program and launched the school’s first Bilingual Chemistry course, expanding STEM opportunities for multilingual learners.
He is also known for mentoring aspiring bilingual educators through partnerships with Elmhurst University and the Noyce PRIDE STEM Teacher Scholars Program, strengthening the pipeline of future teachers who reflect Illinois’ diverse student population.
Media attending the SEE Conference will have opportunities to interview:
The event offers insight into regional efforts to address teacher shortages, expand diversity in the profession, and inspire the next generation of educators.
Media Contact:
Dr. Erin Sagaskie
Instructor, Teacher Education and Mathematics, Program Lead, Teacher Education
John A. Logan College
700 Logan College Drive
Carterville, IL 62918
618-985-2828, ext. 8421 or erin.sagaskie@jalc.edu
JALC.EDU Website