Keynote Plenary Sessions

Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, Louisiana | November 2-5, 2024

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Sunday, November 3, 2024

Opening Plenary Keynote: 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT

Nothing About Us Without Us: A Conversation With Young People on Learner-Centered Education

Too often in the education space, we talk about students without actually hearing directly from them. Every learner brings incredible assets to their schools and communities. These talents will collectively build a brighter future for all of us. But the work of doing school often overshadows the assets learners bring, resulting in educational experiences that happen “to” learners, but not “with” them, and often exacerbate inequities within the system. Join us as we sit down with young people from across the nation who have experienced learner-centered environments first hand. What about their experiences might we take with us as we work together to build a more equitable and engaging education system for all of our nation’s learners?

Carlos Moreno, Co-Executive Director, Big Picture Learning
Carlos Moreno has been a teacher, a principal, a director, and now a Chief Executive Officer. But through it all he has been and continues to be an observer and a learner. A proud native New Yorker, Carlos is a passionate educational trailblazer committed to supporting school and district leaders to create high-quality, non-traditional schools designed to tackle systemic issues related to equity in education. He currently serves as Executive Director for Big Picture Learning, a nonprofit organization that, since 1995, has developed over 150 such schools in the United States and throughout the world. He also co-founded and leads the Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship in partnership with the Internationals Network for Public Schools. Carlos holds undergraduate degrees in marketing and business from Johnson & Wales University along with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Most recently Carlos was named a Pahara-Aspen Institute Fellow – a fellowship designed to sustain diverse, senior leaders who are reimagining public education.

Sofia Ervin-Agudelo, Student, Santa Clara University
Sofia Ervin-Agudelo is an alumni of the San Diego Met High School and second year student studying Communications and Ethnic Studies at Santa Clara University. Sofie is passionate about storytelling through film that highlights the experiences of Black and Queer perspectives that have long been neglected in the film industry. When they’re not studying or writing, they enjoy hikes with their dogs, a fun concert, and enjoying a good movie with friends.

Kam Lui-Carter, Student, Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse
Kam has attended SMASH since Kindergarten (a public school of choice founded in 1973 to nurture active citizens in an ever-evolving Democracy where social-emotional curriculum is equally valued to academics). Teachers say they appreciate Kam’s special blend of intellectual curiosity and clever sense of humor. Classmates say Kam is a kind and fun friend who is also their go to peer tutor for challenging math concepts. Kam learns through his interests in and out of school. He deepens his passion for travel by using informational interviews, family trip experiences, and on-line research, to create tips for efficient and fulfilling travel that he shares with a mix of child and adult audiences. You will frequently find Kam at soccer practice or games, trying new cuisine, or hanging out with his tight knit family.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Morning Keynote Plenary: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM CT

One Good Question with Youth Leaders: Exploring Student Perspectives on How We Invest in our Future

In this keynote panel, education entrepreneur and author Rhonda Broussard will facilitate a conversation with student leaders that unpacks how young people view the investments we make in our education systems. Inspired by her book One Good Question, which explores how the investments countries make in their education systems reflect their values, we’ll hear directly from young people about their perspectives on the investments in our current system, and how we might build more resilient and future-focused systems together.

Facilitator: Rhonda J. Broussard, Founder & CEO, Beloved Community
Rhonda J. Broussard (she/her/hers) is an author, social entrepreneur, and futurist. As the Founder & CEO of Beloved Community, and Founder of Awa by Beloved, PBC. Rhonda works at the nexus of Equity in Schools, Equity at Work, and Equity at Home. Rhonda founded Beloved Community to create sustainable paths to regional racial and economic equity. Her vision for Beloved Community is informed by her leadership in education and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s goal “to create a beloved community” that would “require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

Rhonda has been a change-agent in diversity, equity, inclusion and international education throughout her career. Previously, she founded a network of language immersion and International Baccalaureate world authorized schools, was a National Board Certified Teacher and taught in public schools in drop-out recovery, college access, working class, immigrant, and affluent school communities. She has served on the board of the EdNavigator, Missouri’s Charter Public School Association, PROMO – Missouri’s Statewide LGBTQ Advocacy Organization, Agile Learning Center of New Orleans, and Washington University in St. Louis YMCA-YWCA.

Rhonda is steadfast in her commitment to community engagement and leadership as a Highland Leader, a Tulane Mellon Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow and an Eisenhower Fellow. She currently serves as a Board Director for Generation Hope, Diverse Charter Schools Coalition and New Orleans African American Museum. Rhonda has earned a Bachelor of Arts in French and Secondary Education from Washington University in St. Louis, a Masters of Arts in French Studies from The Institute of French Studies at New York University, and has studied in Cameroon, Martinique, Finland, New Zealand and metropolitan France. Rhonda is the author of One Good Question: How Countries Prepare Youth to Lead. You can find Rhonda, her wife Kim, and her bilingual family living on native Bulbancha land also known as New Orleans, Louisiana where she studies, performs, and teaches dances from the African diaspora.

David Ramirez, New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School
David Ramirez is a student at New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School – “Sci High.” He is 16 Years old and is a part of the National Beta Club, the National Honor Society and Vice President of his school. David is an alumni of YPAR Academy 2023 and a mentor for YPAR Academy 2024. Some interesting facts about David – his favorite color is red and he learned to drive at the age of 11.

Samarah Bentley, Louisiana State University
Samarah Bentley is a freshman at Louisiana State University, double majoring in French and Screen Arts with interests in cinematography, directing, producing, and acting. She is multilingual, having studied French, Spanish and Mandarin. As an activist and artist, her talents lie in youth advocacy and developing creative solutions alongside peers to better her community. The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board, 826 New Orleans, Geaux Girl, Jrnola, YPAR Academy, and Girl Scouts to name a few, have shaped both her personal growth and community awareness. She is the creator of Project Often Reality, a community driven initiative that addresses diversity in the media, education, and media literacy. Samarah has received several awards in writing, media arts and French language proficiency and has published articles in Gambit Weekly and Lifestyles Health and Wellness magazine. Samarah was the inaugural Mayor for the day for New Orleans’ first female mayor and has interviewed the First Lady of France. She is currently working on her third novel, with hopes to publish her first within the next few years.

Edwin Coleman, Ben Franklin High School
Edwin Coleman is a Freshman at Ben Franklin High School. His favorite subject is Math. He would love to become a Chef but also wants to go into Sports Medicine. He began the Little Researchers of Creative Change (Little Rocc’s) Research Program at Tulane University when he was an 8th grade student at Schaumburg Elementary School.  He has been engaging in related activities as they were available, including this past summer.

Afternoon Keynote Plenary: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT

From Tools to Teammates: What is Your Human Advantage in an AI World?

In a landscape where AI and emerging technologies are reshaping every aspect of society, how might we create conditions for deep learning and community engagement? As our relationship with machines shifts from tools to teammates, we must consider the skills and mindsets needed for a future where AI enhances our human capabilities, while enriching our collective human advantage through supportive, inclusive networks. Dr. Quidwai will share strategies to SPARK our human advantage, enabling us to form deeper, more meaningful connections with each other and augment our learning experiences.

Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO, Designing Schools 
Educator, social scientist, and entrepreneur Dr. Sabba Quidwai believes that cultures of innovation begin with a culture of empathy. Her career began as a high school teacher and evolved to Director of Innovative Learning at the University of Southern California, and later being recruited as an Education Executive at Apple. These experiences deepened her insights as a social scientist, focusing on designing learning experiences that equip everyone with the skills and strategies to be irreplaceable in a world with AI. She shares this research in her 2022 documentary, examining why and how design thinking is your human advantage in an AI world.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Closing Plenary Keynote: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CT

Awakening the Genius in Your Students Through Learning Autonomy

Think about the deep questions that young learners often ask: “Why is the sky blue?” “Where does the rain come from?” But too often than not, once students become part of the traditional, one-size-fits-all education system, that curiosity gets squashed. But what if educators could re-awaken this genius? Learning enthusiast and optimist Erika Twani will inspire us with six steps that can form a pathway to a competency-based system and that educators can use today to awaken the genius in their students. Let’s reinvigorate the curiosity that is innate to the human condition, and equip ourselves and our learners with the skills they’ll need to lead productive lives and prosperous futures.

Erika Twani, CEO, Learning One to One
Erika Twani is a best-selling author, TEDx speaker, social entrepreneur, and Fortune 100 corporate veteran driven by a deep passion for personalized education. With over 22 years of experience in the education technology industry, Erika has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of personalized learning in students’ lives. This passion led her to join education experts in founding the Learning One to One Foundation in 2011, where she serves as CEO. Erika’s expertise is widely recognized, and she is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences on learning innovation, educational technology, and AI. She sits on various boards.

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