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This is a story about my daughter and the journey I have taken learning to listen. My daughter Izzy started school four years ago and this event sent me on a reflective journey of my role as an educator. She has taught me a renewed focus on making sure all students know that they matter and that their unique personalities and stories are celebrated. In this moving talk, I make a call for all educators to not only see their curriculum but to also see children for who they are, for if we don't then we miss a huge part of their education. 

Being a teacher is one of the hardest and yet most rewarding professions out there.  Teaching is more than standing in front of the class and delivering a lesson, it is about enriching lives and changing futures. Through this discussion, I hope to empower teachers to believe in themselves and see that they are more than, just a teacher! 

This keynote talks about the power and fear of change. I discuss some of the things that have changed in the last 20 years and why it is integral for us as educators and administrators to be at the forefront of that change or at the very least not to fear what change can bring. 

This keynote focuses on understanding the ever-changing climate of the math wars. It brings in my thesis work around the impact of questions, how I plan for those and what it takes to make a balanced math program. Through my talk, it shows how moving our students from just Doing the math to DOERs we can create a more positive experience for student achievement. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tu1mBhEBZA)

This focuses on understanding and balancing both academic and social aspects of students in order to improve student success. I talk about landscapes, building powerful questions, and understanding the social pieces that are at play in students' lives. 

This keynote is about the wonders and excitement in today's world. We have such amazing inventions and creativity that is happening. Students will be reminded that the skills they need for the future are being built right now. At the center of all these skills in Math. Math allows us to be creative, to question, and to be excited to learn. However, most importantly, our students will be the center of our future, and who knows will one day solve some of the world's greatest problems.