Closing Mainstage

Nicole Butler-Hooton has been a second grade teacher at Irving Elementary School in Eugene, Oregon, for 15 years. She was named the 2021 Oregon Teacher of the Year, becoming the first Indigenous teacher in Oregon to earn this recognition. Butler-Hooten is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians- Chetco Band (Oregon) and the San Carlos Apache Tribe (Arizona). A first-generation college graduate, she values making connections with students, families and the school community, while centering equity and cultural competency in her teaching. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a focus on ethnic studies, and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Oregon, where she was part of the Sapsik'ʷałá Teacher Education Program that supports Native educators. Butler-Hooton says her primary professional goal is to build rapport and make a positive difference in her student’s lives. She’s deeply involved in the Oregon Indian Education Association (OIEA), the University of Oregon Community Diversity Advisory Committee, the Western Regional Educator's Network to establish affinity groups for educators of color, Oregon Empowerment Academy/OEA, and the Bethel School District Professional Learning Community for Culturally Sustaining Practices. She believes that Indigenous children need access to a more truthful education that allows them to realize their Indigenous self-identity, language and culture through accurate representation in their lives.

Megan McMahon is a senior events manager with ISTE, helping shape amazing educator content and events like the Creative Constructor Lab. She also has experience as a teacher resident with IDEO’s The Teachers Guild, spent 10 years as an art educator for San Francisco Unified School District, was a Peace Corps education volunteer in Bolivia, worked as a designer and art director for Anderson & Lembke Advertising, and was a co-founder of Beyond Borders Storytelling. McMahon is also an artist, and is always seeking that elusive San Francisco sun. She believes changes in education will come from inside school communities, from the ground up.

Todd Rose, Ph.D., is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to a positive-sum world where all people have the opportunity to live fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, Rose was a professor at Harvard University where he served as the faculty director of the Mind, Brain and Education program, and led the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality. Rose is the author of two bestselling books, The End of Average and Dark Horse.

Jeffrey R. Young is a senior editor at EdSurge, covering the intersection of tech and education and co-hosting EdSurge’s weekly podcast. He previously spent 20 years at The Chronicle of Higher Education as a reporter and editor. In 2014 he was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, where he was also a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Young has written for national publications including The New York Times, Slate, and The Wall Street Journal. Young has also taught classes and workshops on digital journalism, including at the University of Maryland and the University of Minnesota.