DECATUR, Ill. – High school students from across Central Illinois gathered on Millikin University’s campus on Monday, Oct. 19, for the 2026 Tomorrow’s Teachers Conference, a day devoted to exploring the teaching profession through hands-on sessions, campus engagement, and conversations about what it means to be an educator.
Hosted by Millikin’s School of Education, the annual event drew a record 132 participants interested in pursuing careers in teaching. The conference featured interactive workshops exploring innovative teaching strategies, hands-on learning activities, and creative approaches to engaging diverse learners.
Attendees also heard candid perspectives from current Millikin Education majors during a forum titled “What It’s Like Being an Education Major,” as well as from local teachers Hannah and Ron Lybarger, of Decatur's Eisenhower High School.
The Tomorrow’s Teachers Conference is designed to give high school students a hands-on introduction to Millikin’s Performance Learning approach, which emphasizes real-world experience, reflection, and community engagement. Participants explored everything from social-emotional learning, neurodiversity, arts integration, and math instruction to classroom games, technology, and inclusive learning environments.
