ISTELive draws some of the most thought-provoking and enthralling featured speakers from the world of education and beyond. You’ll connect, you’ll learn and your mind will be blown! Featured Voices present in a variety of session formats tailored for how you like to learn.
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Greg Tarzan Davis
Actor and Former Teacher
Greg Tarzan Davis is a former elementary school teacher and a TV and film actor.
Amanda Jones
Teacher-Librarian, Live Oak Middle School, Louisiana
Amanda Jones is a teacher-librarian at Live Oak Middle School in Watson, Louisiana.
Zach King
Filmmaker and Digital Illusionist
Zach King is a filmmaker and illusionist known for his clever magic tricks and digital sleight of hand.
Zhoriél Tapo
Student Reporter
Zhoriél Tapo is a 13-year-old, seventh grade student at LJ Alleman Middle School in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Kermit Ruffins
New Orleans Jazz Trumpeter, Singer, Composer and Actor
Kermit Ruffins is a jazz trumpeter, singer and composer, and an actor, from New Orleans.
Rachelle Dené Poth
STEAM and Spanish Teacher, Riverview School District
Rachelle Dené Poth is a STEAM and Spanish teacher, author, edtech consultant and attorney.
Global experts from education and beyond!
Cornel West, Ph.D.
Professor and Author
Cornel West, Ph.D., is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University.
Ideas that pay dividends today and into the future.
Taryn Southern Southern
Digital Anthropologist, AI Music Composer, Storyteller
Taryn Southern is a storyteller, digital anthropologist and media consultant.
Juliana Urtubey
2021 National Teacher of the Year
Juliana Urtubey is a special education teacher and the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.
Mind-blowing Mainstage speakers!
Alyssa Carson
Youngest Astronaut Candidate and Mars One 2030 Ambassador
Alyssa Carson, known by the call sign Blueberry, is an American college student who aspires to train to be an astronaut and participate in human spaceflight to Mars.
Brandan “BMIKE” Odums
Visual Artist, Activist, Youth Mentor
Brandan “BMIKE” Odums is a New Orleans-based visual artist.
Annelise Cassar Tedesco
Music Director, Chalmette High School, New Orleans
2022 Louisana State Teacher of the Year.
Spencer Kiper
Instructional Technologist,
Caddo Parish Public Schools
Spencer Kiper is an instructional technologist for Caddo Parish Public Schools in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the 2019 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.
Avis Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools
Avis Williams, Ed.D., is the incoming superintendent for NOLA Public Schools.
Mary Jo Madda
Former Teacher, Doctoral Student, EdSurge Writer
Mary Jo Madda is a former teacher, a doctoral student at UCLA and a contributing writer for EdSurge.
Practice-changing tips and tools.
Robert P. George, Ph.D.
Professor and Legal Scholar, Princeton University
Robert P. George Ph.D., is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.
Powerful stories – sure to inspire.
Ilene Winokur, Ed.D.
Professional Development Specialist
Ilene Winokur, Ed.D., is a professional development specialist who supports global educators, including refugee teachers.
Dee Lanier
Lead Experience Designer, LINC
Dee Lanier is a lead experience designer for LINC and an educational technologist with over a decade of K-12 and collegiate instructional experience.
Innovative approaches you can use right away!
Jennifer Yoo-Brannon
Teacher and EdSurge Voices of Change Contributor, Instructional Coach
Jennifer Yoo-Brannon is a teacher and instructional coach in the El Monte Union High School District in California.
Tim Needles
STEAM Teacher, Author and Artist
Tim Needles is an art, media and STEAM teacher, the author of STEAM Power and an artist.
Practice-changing ideas.
Wanda Terral
Director of Technology, Lakeland School System, Tennessee
Wanda Terral, Ed.D., is the director of technology for Lakeland School System in Tennessee.
Stories that spark inspiration.
Jorge Valenzuela
Education Coach and Author
Jorge Valenzuela is the lead coach at Lifelong Learning Defined, an adjunct professor for Old Dominion University and an author.
Aisha Douglas
Academic Dean of Humanities, EdSurge Voices of Change Contributor
Aisha Douglas is the academic dean of humanities for Achievement First Brooklyn High School.
Big doses of inspiration!
Dominic Hill
Technology and Mathematics Specialist Teacher, British School of Tokyo, Japan
Dominic Hill is a technology and math specialist teacher for the British School of Tokyo in Japan.
Deitra Colquitt, Ed.S.
Co-Principal, EdSurge Voices of Change Contributor
Deitra Colquitt, Ed.S., is the co-principal of The School District of University City in Missouri.
Richard Culatta
ISTE CEO
Richard Culatta is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Nancy Jo Lambert
Teacher Librarian
Nancy Jo Lambert is a teacher librarian in Texas.
The messages you need NOW!
Rand Hansen, Ed.D.
President, ISTE Board of Directors
Rand Hansen, Ed.D., is the associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Maryland Global Campus and president of the ISTE Board of Directors.
Cynthia Vavasseur, Ph.D.
Professor of Educational Technology Leadership
Cynthia Vavasseur, Ph.D., is the program chair for the master's in educational technology leadership program at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.
Elizabeth Pinzon
Technology Integration Specialist, Colegio Los Altos
Elizabeth Pinzon is a technology integration specialist and engineering teacher for Colegio Los Altos in Mexico.
Adam Juarez
Tech Integration Coach
Adam Juarez is a technology integration coach for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District in California.
Katherine Goyette
Edtech and Integrated Studies Consultant
Katherine Goyette is an educational technology and integrated studies consultant for the Tulare County Office of Education in California.
Mateo de Obeso
Student, Himalaya International School, Mexico
Mateo de Obeso is an eighth grade student at Himalaya International School in Monterrey, Mexico.
An idea incubator for learning.
Avery Vavasseur
Student, St. Michael the Archangel High School, Baton Rouge
Avery Vavasseur is a sophomore at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge.
Luke Mullins
Student, Trimble County High School, Kentucky
Luke Mullins is a senior at Trimble County High School in Kentucky.
Thought leaders with practical tips!
Nancye Blair Black
Speaker/Author/Consultant, ISTE’s AI Explorations Project Lead
Nancye Blair Black is the founder and CEO of The Block Uncarved, an educational consulting firm specializing in dignity-driven instructional design and professional development.