When winter weather brought Mississippi to a standstill, two Charleston High School students refused to let an ice storm freeze their momentum.
Instead of traveling to the Educators Rising State Conference, Italy Chambers and Armani Smith pivoted quickly, competing virtually — and emerging as two of the state’s top performers.
Despite the challenges of remote competition, Italy Chambers earned one of the highest honors of the conference: she was elected State Secretary for Mississippi Educators Rising, a leadership role that places her at the forefront of student advocacy and educational service across the state. Chambers’ election reflects her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the teaching profession.
Fellow CHS student Armani Smith also delivered an impressive performance, competing in the highly competitive Interactive Bulletin Board category. Smith’s creativity and instructional design skills stood out among a large field of competitors from across Mississippi, earning her a third place finish at the state level.
Both Chambers and Smith have now qualified to advance to the Educators Rising National Conference, which will be held in Portland, Oregon, this June. There, they will represent Charleston High School and the state of Mississippi on the national stage, competing alongside thousands of aspiring educators from across the country.
Their success — achieved under unexpected and challenging circumstances —highlights not only their resilience, but also the strength of CHS’s Teacher Academy program.
As the school community celebrates their accomplishments, Chambers and Smith continue to prepare for the next level of competition, proving that determination can shine through even the iciest of obstacles.
