Keynote Speakers

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Convention attendees will hear from exciting and powerful speakers and special guests during each action-packed general meeting.

Tony Thurmond
California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tony Thurmond leads the nation’s largest public school system, serving over 5.8 million students across more than 1,000 school districts and 10,000 schools. Since taking office, he has championed historic investments, legislation and initiatives to close the achievement gap and promote access and opportunity for all of California’s students. Superintendent Thurmond’s leadership has been shaped by his on-the-ground expertise as an educator and as a social worker and his 18 years as an elected official. Making ongoing teacher development a priority, he has allocated substantial resources for reading coaches and professional development in math and literacy instruction, empowering educators to excel in the classroom.

Ken Wesson
Educational Consultant
Formerly a higher education faculty member and administrator, Wesson delivers keynote addresses on the neuroscience of learning throughout the United States and overseas. Wesson addresses audiences on “Brain-Considerate Learning,” early childhood education, STEM education, and social-emotional learning. He is an active member of Scientists without Borders, and can be seen on PBS specials on learning and the teenage brain. In 2016, he delivered a keynote address at the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in Washington, D.C., and spoke at a symposium for the United Nations’ NGOs. In 2017, Wesson was nominated to receive the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award.

Erin Gruwell
Author & Educator
Erin Gruwell is an acclaimed author, educator, and leader whose work has inspired countless communities from around the world to embrace hope, overcome challenges, and unlock their full potential. Erin’s original “Freedom Writer” students faced significant obstacles in their pursuit of an education, like poverty, gang violence, hate, and division. However, under Erin’s guidance, the Freedom Writers defied the odds, graduating high school and achieving academic success. As Erin’s story enters its third decade, her lessons about perseverance and possibility remain as relevant as ever.

Bob Mauger
Teacher of the Year
Over the past nine years, Bob Mauger transformed a struggling automotive program into a highly respected pathway for students entering the automotive industry. Through various vehicle restoration projects and community engagement, he earned national recognition for both his program and his students. In 2021, he was chosen to be the B’laster Corporation Instructor of the Year, a nationwide competition for all hands-on trade programs for secondary and post-secondary education put on through Tomorrow’s Technician magazine and Babcox Media. For Mr. Mauger, witnessing the growth of his program and enthusiasm of his students continually reinforces his dedication to teaching.