Education
Educators
Educators:
12th U.S. Secretary of Education
Dr. Miguel A. Cardona is an American leader and educator. He served as the 12th United States Secretary of Education, a position he was nominated for by President Joe Biden.
Inner-City Youth & Education Advocate
Founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Canada addresses inner city poverty and violence. His model was featured in Waiting for Superman and has been replicated across the U.S.
Globalization & Education Expert
Speaker Yong Zhao is the presidential chair and associate dean for global education at the University of Oregon. He covers everything from policy to innovation and technology.
Research Professor & Historian of Education
Diane Ravitch is a research professor of education at New York University and a prolific writer, who has published more than 500 articles and reviews for scholarly and popular publications on the subject.
Professor of Science Education & Author
Christopher Emdin teaches STEM classes at Columbia where he serves as Director of Secondary School Initiatives at the Urban Science Education Center. He wrote Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation.
LinkedIn Top Voice in Tech & STEM Educator
Justin Shaifer, award-winning Science & Technology TV Presenter & Producer, uses cutting-edge tech to revolutionize science education. Through his company Fascinate Media, Justin creates immersive educational experiences with 3D animation, volumetric capture robotics, and more.
Educator, Best-Selling Author, Recovery & Prevention Coach
Teacher and NYT best-selling author, Jessica Lahey, inspires audiences with her rallying cry to allow children to experience failure as an integral part of becoming successful, resilient and self-reliant adults.
"Maria" on Sesame Street & Best-Selling Author
Having retired her iconic Sesame Street character “Maria,” Manzano now dedicates her time to speaking and writing on education, communication, and Hispanics in the media.
Teacher & Student Inspirational Speakers
Donna Porter and DJ Batiste have a story that is sure to inspire all audiences. Porter has dedicated her life to the field of education and changed DJ Batiste’s life by introducing him to Conscious Discipline.
Founder & CEO of REthinc
Kate Gerson is a powerful advocate for equity in American institutions. With over 25 years racial equity work and education leadership, Kate has emerged as a thought leader.
Big Data Expert, Professor, Host of Nova Wonders
A popular TED speaker and passionate STEM education advocate, Dr. Williams deploys data in unusual and insightful ways, viewing subjects ranging from health to diversity in a new light.
Brain Scientist
Wherever the very latest neuroscience intersects with real-world challenges facing the workplace, education, healthcare, and our everyday lives, you’ll find energizing insights from brain scientist John Medina.
Principal EL & the Schoolhouse302
The Passionate Leadership Institute is designed to guide the thinking, planning and actions of educators. Dr. EL, Dr. Jones and Dr. Vari will discuss creating and fostering a culture to support educators who are more equity-focused and innovative.
Acclaimed Rapper, Financial Literacy Guru & Social Influencer
What do you call an acclaimed rapper, math teacher, financial literacy guru, social influencer, and award-winning motivational speaker? Dee-1.
Directors of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies and Professors of Teacher Education at Montclair State University
Monica Taylor and Emily J. Klein are professors at Montclair State University focusing on Teaching and Learning, Education, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
Innovative Educator & Chair of the Acosta Institute for Healing-Centered Education
Dr. Angel Acosta is a transformative leader, educator, and speaker, renowned for his innovative work at the intersection of social justice, mindfulness, and education.
Award-Winning School Leader
Allyson Apsey has been an award-winning school leader for nearly 20 years, leading all levels from elementary to High School. Allyson had the honor to help open a highly successful charter school in northern Michigan.
Former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools
David C. Banks is the former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the United States.
Relationship Advocate & Inspirational Speaker
Determined, passionate, motivational! Dewayne “D.J.” Batiste has a story that touches millions of people on a scale from students, teachers, parents and more. D.J. has a passion for reaching out to kids on a level no one can reach them.
Academy Award Winning Producer, Period. End of Sentence.
An Academy Award winning producer for Best Documentary Short (2019), Melissa Berton taught English at Oakwood Secondary School, where she inspired her students to make the film Period. End of Sentence. to raise awareness about menstrual health.
Inspirational Educator & Author
The author of the memoir Nobody Don't Love Nobody, the story of her first teaching job at a school for homeless children, Stacey Bess shares a powerful message of mentorship and service.
Leadership Catalyst & Innovator
Dr. Christopher Bonn stands as an exemplary figure in the field of educational leadership, demonstrating a unique and powerful approach to revitalizing struggling organizations.
Best-Selling Author of Thrivers, Parenting & Child Expert
Educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba is as world-renowned for her warm, down-to-earth speaking style as she is for cutting edge insights. Her informative presentations leave audiences with usable strategies.
Former US Senator & Ambassador
Known as a builder of political bridges with deep expertise in both the public and private sector, Ambassador Scott Brown speaks from more than 30 years of experience as a diplomat, senator, military officer, trade negotiator and bestselling author.
Award-Winning Latina Children’s Author & Literacy Advocate
Monica Brown is the award-winning author of over thirty magical multicultural picture books for children including Waiting for the Biblioburro, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina, Frida and her Animalitos, and more.
Master Educator, Consultant & Author
Dr. Brown III, without a doubt, offers the most uniquely inspiring, relevant, and entertaining yet profoundly challenging presentations around. A life-long social justice advocate, he is admired around the world for his simple and direct “Real Talk.”
Dean of Harvard’s Renowned Radcliffe Institute
Tomiko Brown Nagin is a prize-winning author, eminent legal scholar and historian, dean of Harvard’s renowned Radcliffe Institute, and pathbreaking leader in higher education.
CEO of Robin Hood
Richard is the CEO of Robin Hood and former Chief Executive Officer of Achievement First, a network of 37 public charter schools providing an excellent education to 15,000 students across New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Higher Education Evangelist & CEO, University Innovation Alliance
Named one of the “16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education” by Washington Monthly magazine, Dr. Bridget Burns is the founding executive director of the University Innovation Alliance (theUIA.org).
Counseling Psychologist, Former Chief DEI Officer & Former President of the American Counseling Association (ACA)”
Dr. S. Kent Butler is a dedicated advocate for social justice and a passionate supporter of family, firmly believing in the power of community to uplift and inspire.
Educator & Congressional Candidate
Tierney Cahill is an award winning educator that inspires audiences around the country with her experience of running for Congress as a sixth grade teacher.
Education Innovation Expert
Speaker Milton Chen is a leading figure in educational media for years, currently leading the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that shares ideas on education.
Best-Selling Author of The AI Infused Classroom & Co-Host of The Digital Learning Podcast
Holly Clark is the author of The AI Infused Classroom, and a leading global strategist for AI in education, guiding schools and districts through the integration of AI best practices and policies.
Best-Selling Author, Educator & Thought Leader
Jennifer De Leon is author of the YA novel Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From which was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection, and the essay collection White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing, which is a recipient of the Juniper Prize in Creative Nonfiction.
Award-Winning Essayist & Critic
William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent college speaker, and the best-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.
Performing Artist, Founder of the Sphinx Organization, & Best-Selling Author
Named a 2005 MacArthur Fellow, President Obama’s first appointment to the National Council on the Arts and member of President Biden’s Arts Policy Committee, Aaron P. Dworkin is former dean and current Professor at the University of Michigan.
NASA Principal Investigator, Planetary Scientist and Educator & Expert in Teamwork and Leadership
Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a world-renowned planetary scientist, educator, and member of the National Academy of Sciences. She is the Principal Investigator of NASA’s Psyche mission and co-founder of the education company Beagle Learning.
One of America's Most Celebrated Schoolteachers
A once-in-a-lifetime educator, Rafe Esquith may be the most inspiring school teacher in America. Called “a genius and a saint” by The New York Times, Esquith stresses the need to make students our priority.
Global Education Thought Leader, Author, Futurist & Inventor
Charles Fadel is a global education thought leader and author, futurist and inventor. He is the founder and chairman of Center for Curriculum Redesign.
The AI Educator, Best Selling Author & Founder of Thirdbox
Dan Fitzpatrick is a pioneering figure in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and education.
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author
James Forman, Jr. started the Maya Angelou Public Charter School and is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He also worked as a law clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor of the U.S. Supreme Court and is a Pulitzer Prize Winning Author.
Innovator & Leader in Teacher Education
The former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, Michael Fullan is an expert on education reform. He advises lawmakers with the moral goal of universal education.
Educational Leader, Social Justice Advocate, Strategist & Author of Being Black in America’s Schools
Brian Rashad Fuller is educational leader, social justice advocate, strategist and author with a passion for addressing the needs of historically underserved students.
Gen Z Enthusiast, Tech Innovator & Professor
Kristen Geez is a globally recognized Gen Z Enthusiast, Tech Innovator, and highly sought-after International Speaker and Professor, with a mission to inspire and empower the next generation.
Singer/Songwriter
For more than 35 years, Debbie Gibson has been a true pioneer and force in the entertainment industry. A singer, songwriter, producer, musician, actor, and entrepreneur, she embodies what it truly means to be an icon.
Best-Selling Author & Harvard Professor of Education and African American Studies
Jarvis R. Givens is a professor of education and faculty affiliate in the department of African & African American studies at Harvard University.
Inspirational Educator & Author
Erin Gruwell helped students "written off" by the system harness the power of education to graduate high school. Her dedication to her students resulted in the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary.
Author & Founder of EQ Schools
Roni Habib is an expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful.
Senior Fellow M-RCBG at the Harvard Kennedy School & Former College President
Gregory Haile has exceptional leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. By the time he was 40 years old, he had become the president of Broward College, one of the largest colleges in the United States.
Entrepreneur, Author & Former Education Leader
Entrepreneur, speaker, author, and former education leader David Hardy Jr. has an accomplished career in leading transformational change in organizations across multiple industries.
Renowned Author & Researcher Advocating for Equitable and Inclusive Education
Andy Hargreaves is Visiting Professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada and Research Professor at Boston College in the US. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Education.
Transformational Speaker, Educational Leader & National Trainer
Brian Heat is a dynamic Educator, Trainer and Amazon Best Selling Author with his latest book release Get Ignited, who transforms audiences by infusing high-octane motivational and cinematic themes.
Author, Screenwise & Digital Citizenship Expert
A workshop leader and consultant, Dr. Devorah Heitner founded Raising Digital Natives to serve as a resource for schools and organizations wishing to cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship.
Author & Expert in International Education
Carl Hobert, a leading voice on global education equity, human rights and social justice, reveals how to harness creativity, passion, teamwork, and determination to make the world a better place.
President, Urban Learning & Leadership Center
Dr. John W. Hodge is president and co-founder of Urban Learning and Leadership Center (ULLC), an organization focused on student achievement and reduction of the achievement gap.
National Educator
Dr. Sharroky Hollie is a national educator who provides professional development to thousands of educators in the area of cultural responsiveness.
UCLA Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in Education to Strengthen Children & Families & Best-Selling Author
Dr. Tyrone Howard is a professor of education in the School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA. His research addresses issues tied to race, culture, access and educational opportunity for minoritized student populations.
National/International Education Consultant & Author
Robert Jackson began his teaching career over 20 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools with a No More Excuses teaching approach with all of his students. As an educator, he didn’t allow his students to feel sorry for themselves.
Visionary in Agentic AI-Driven Decision Intelligence
Dr. Moriba Jah is an internationally recognized, award-winning scientist, educator and MacArthur fellow acknowledged for his work in space environmentalism.
Associate Professor at University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business
Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson is an author and professor who studies the intersection of leadership and diversity, focusing on (1) how unconscious bias affects the evaluation of leaders and (2) strategies that leaders can use to mitigate bias.
Thought Leader & Founding Director, LBJ School of Public Affairs CSRD
In Fall 2015, Dr. Peniel E. Joseph joined the University of Texas at Austin as Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy.
Best Selling Author & K12 Education Leader
Principal Baruti Kafele, a highly regarded urban educator in New Jersey for more than 20 years, has distinguished himself as a master teacher and a transformational school leader.
Psychotherapist, Best-Selling Author & Television Personality
Tom Kersting is a nationally renowned psychotherapist, best-selling author and television personality. He’s hosted television shows and series for A&E Network, Food Network and National Geographic channel.
Professor at Montclair State University in the Department of Teaching and Learning & the Department of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies
Emily J. Klein is a professor at Montclair State University in the Department of Teaching and Learning, the PhD program in Teaching and Teacher Education, and the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
Sociologist, 2x TED Speaker & Author
Dr. Anindya Kundu is a 2-time TED Speaker and is author of the new book, The Power of Student Agency: Looking Beyond Grit to Close the Opportunity Gap.
Educator / Attorney / Author
A human relations and education expert, Dr. Crystal Kuykendall has gained national recognition for her extensive talents in promoting problem resolution. She is President of her own firm, K.I.R.K., Inc.
Chief Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
A renowned science fiction writer who produced the Cosmos series with Carl Sagan, B. Gentry Lee is responsible for the engineering integrity of all the robotic planetary missions managed by JPL.
Educator & Author of The Price of Privilege
Author of The Price of Privilege, Madeline Levine cautions parents to be cognizant of the harmful influence of media violence and offers instructions on properly supervising their children's viewing habits.
School Turnaround Expert & Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Urban Education
Dr. Chance W. Lewis is the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Urban Education and former Provost Faculty Fellow for Diversity, Inclusion and Access at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
CEO, Citizen University & Civic Evangelist
One of the country’s most sought-after speakers on citizen power, civic health, the future of democracy and American identity, civic evangelist Eric Liu celebrates shared values and challenges Americans to live up to them.
Co-Founder of Create Labs
Abran Maldonado is a true visionary in the world of artificial intelligence. As co-founder of Create Labs, Abran is leading the charge in the generative AI and metaverse design space.
Founder of iResearch Corporation
Serena has dedicated her life to the advancement of science and to science education with the nation’s most promising youth. Dr. Serena McCalla was raised in New York City, and fell in love with science as an elementary school student.
Senior Hardware Engineer at Google
As a child, McLurkin was constantly building with any materials he could access. Today, he continues this tradition using Mother Nature as a model researching & developing algorithms to program autonomous robots.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education & Author
H. Richard Milner IV is Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College.
Author, I Love My Job But It's Killing Me
Lesley Moffat has taught high school band for over thirty years in the Pacific Northwest. She has written two #1 International Bestselling books and raised three daughters while serving in the community where she lives.
Teacher & Author
Trevor Muir is a passionate educator, speaker, and author who believes in the transformative power of education.
Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at NYU School of Law
Melissa Murray knows the transformational power of women’s rights and gender justice. As a leading scholar of constitutional law and reproductive rights and justice, she researches and writes about the structures, systems, and institutions.
Award-Winning Science Journalist & Author
Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, author of seven books, and an internationally-recognized speaker whose work explores the intersection of neurobiology and human emotion.
One of the Nation’s Leading Scholars on Race, Inequality & Education
Pedro Noguera is the Dean of the Rossier School of Education, and a Distinguished Professor of Education at USC. He is one of the nation’s leading scholars on issues related to race, inequality, and education.
Geneticist, Professor, Mentor & TEDx Speaker
Dr. Tiffany Oliver is a dynamic motivational speaker, author, professor, and scientist. For almost 20 years, she has captivated audiences with her research and presentations on leadership, persistence, and excellence.
New York Times Best Selling Author
Peggy Orenstein is an internationally-acclaimed expert on the challenges facing teens, college students--and their parents--as they come of age in today’s culture, She is the author of the New York Times best-sellers Boys & Sex and Girls & Sex.
Higher Education Professional & Author
Wes Parham MBA, Ph.D. is a national speaker in the critical areas of organizational and individual development, innovative leadership, and educational engagement. He is also the founder of the field of "Haterology."
Author of The Assertive Parent, Support Coach & Mental Health Educator
Daniel Patterson empowers people to discover their hope for the future through a powerful story of personal recovery and reinvention. Since he began his recovery journey, he has established two successful multi-million companies.
Professor at NYU & Founding Director, CREATE Consortium
Dr. Jan L. Plass is a Professor at New York University, holding the Paulette Goddard Chair in Digital Media and Learning Sciences. He is the founding director of the CREATE Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technology in Education and co-director of the Games for Learning Institute.
Former Teacher & Elementary Principal
Toby Price is a former teacher and elementary principal. He is a husband, an educator, a writer, a story teller, an artist, and the King of Dad Jokes.
Education Expert on Assessment & School Reform
Dr. Douglas Reeves is one of the most noted experts on education and school reform. As a researcher, reformer, and educator, he has received some of the most noteworthy awards in his respective fields.
Founder of Green Bronx Machine
Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator/administrator who believes that students shouldn't have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one.
Award-Winning Scholar & Professor of Political Science at Brown University.
Melvin Rogers is an award-winning scholar and stands as a distinguished academic renowned for his insightful contributions to the discourse on race and democracy within the realms of American culture and politics.
Renowned Finnish Educator & Scholar
Pasi Sahlberg is a Finnish educator and scholar. Known as the international “school improvement activist,” he shares his experiences in classroom teaching, teacher education, and global educational change.
Fellow, Int'l Center for Leadership in Education
Eric Sheninger is a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) and Scholastic Achievement Partners (SAP).
Leader, Author & Speaker
Dr. Jill Siler served as the Superintendent of Gunter ISD for nearly ten years and now serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).
Best-Selling Author & Leadership Educator
Rachel Simmons is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl, and Enough As She Is.
Founder of Pacific Educational Group, Inc.
A product of public elementary and independent secondary school, Singleton founded Pacific Educational Group, Inc. (PEG) to support families in their transitions within and between K–12 and higher education.
Disability Advocate, Educator & Best-Selling Author, Sitting Pretty
Rebekah Taussig will challenge everything you think you know about disability as she invites us into her experience of living in a body that looks and moves differently than most.
Director of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies & Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at Montclair State University
Monica Taylor is the Director of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, as well as in the teacher education and teacher development doctoral program at Montclair State University.
Inspirational Principal
Being driven by a purpose larger than the self is the theme of I Choose to Stay, a memoir written by the award-winning school principal and speaker Salome Thomas-EL.
Educator, Author & Humanitarian
Thompson is an educator, author, mentor to urban youth and retired school psychologist. She created Reverse the Adverse, a trauma-informed care training for educators and mental health professionals.
Education Specialist
An education author and former co-director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, speaker Tony Wagner has worked for more than 30 years to improve schools.
Best Selling Author & Principal of the Year
Adam has been a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and Director of Innovation for a district with 35,000 students.
Education Columnist for CBC Radio
Joel Westheimer is University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa and education columnist for CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning and Ontario Today shows.
Freedom Fighter, Critical Scholar & Equity Strategist
Dr. Whitaker is Director of the Center for Urban Education, Equity, and Improvement at Cabrini University. He focuses on the psychology of race and racism, issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and more.
Olympic Gold Medalist, Author & Mindset Enthusiast
Mary Wineberg surmounted monumental challenges and overcame astronomical odds to earn the highest honor in all of sport, Olympic Gold in track and field.
Featured in Gap Kids Back to School Campaign, CEO and Founder of The Push Through Organization
Jasmyn Wright, a globally recognized educator, author, and speaker, received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College and her Master’s in Education from Christian Brothers University.