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FEATURED VOICES

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.

Richard Culatta

ISTE CEO

Richard Culatta is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

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.

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.

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.

Greg Tarzan Davis

Actor and Former Teacher

Greg Tarzan Davis is a former elementary school teacher and a TV and film actor.

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.

Global experts from education and beyond!

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.

Ideas that pay dividends today and into the future.

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.

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.

Mind-blowing Mainstage speakers!

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.

Amanda Jones

Teacher-Librarian, Live Oak Middle School, Louisiana

Amanda Jones is a teacher-librarian at Live Oak Middle School in Watson, Louisiana.

Adam Juarez

Tech Integration Coach

Adam Juarez is a technology integration coach for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District in California.

Zach King

Filmmaker and Digital Illusionist

Zach King is a filmmaker and illusionist known for his clever magic tricks and digital sleight of hand.

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.

Nancy Jo Lambert

Teacher Librarian

Nancy Jo Lambert is a teacher librarian in Texas.

Practice-changing tips and tools.

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.

Powerful stories – sure to inspire.

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.

Luke Mullins

Student, Trimble County High School, Kentucky

Luke Mullins is a senior at Trimble County High School in Kentucky.

Innovative approaches you can use right away!

Tim Needles

STEAM Teacher, Author and Artist

Tim Needles is an art, media and STEAM teacher, the author of STEAM Power and an artist.

Mateo de Obeso

Student, Himalaya International School, Mexico

Mateo de Obeso is an eighth grade student at Himalaya International School in Monterrey, Mexico.

Practice-changing ideas.

Brandan “BMIKE” Odums

Visual Artist, Activist, Youth Mentor

Brandan “BMIKE” Odums is a New Orleans-based visual artist.

Stories that spark inspiration.

Elizabeth Pinzon

Technology Integration Specialist, Colegio Los Altos

Elizabeth Pinzon is a technology integration specialist and engineering teacher for Colegio Los Altos in Mexico.

Rachelle Dené Poth

STEAM and Spanish Teacher, Riverview School District

Rachelle Dené Poth is a STEAM and Spanish teacher, author, edtech consultant and attorney.

Big doses of inspiration!

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.

Taryn Southern Southern

Digital Anthropologist, AI Music Composer, Storyteller

Taryn Southern is a storyteller, digital anthropologist and media consultant.

Zhoriél Tapo

Student Reporter

Zhoriél Tapo is a 13-year-old, seventh grade student at LJ Alleman Middle School in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Annelise Cassar Tedesco

Music Director, Chalmette High School, New Orleans

2022 Louisana State Teacher of the Year.

The messages you need NOW!

Wanda Terral

Director of Technology, Lakeland School System, Tennessee

Wanda Terral, Ed.D., is the director of technology for Lakeland School System in Tennessee.

Juliana Urtubey

2021 National Teacher of the Year

Juliana Urtubey is a special education teacher and the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An idea incubator for learning.

Avis Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools

Avis Williams, Ed.D., is the incoming superintendent for NOLA Public Schools.

Ilene Winokur, Ed.D.

Professional Development Specialist

Ilene Winokur, Ed.D., is a professional development specialist who supports global educators, including refugee teachers.

Thought leaders with practical tips!

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.