This year’s SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas, is fast approaching! From rethinking workforce pathways to designing and funding innovative programs that accelerate breakthroughs, we’re excited for the sessions that many of our partners and collaborators will be leading and facilitating. Across these conversations, innovative strategies and partnerships emerge to meet critical challenges in education. Each session features bold thinking and collaborative efforts aimed at solving some of the field’s toughest problems. Explore the panels below, and don’t forget to add your favorites to your conference schedule!
Featured Session: Moonshots that Move the Needle
Advanced tech is quickly expanding the ways we can support teachers and students both in and out of the classroom. But how do we design and fund programs that turn potential into impact? This panel explores how setting bold, time-bound learning goals can accelerate and level-up innovation while catalyzing impactful financial support. From coordinated research programs to targeted funding strategies, this session will explore how moonshot-centered models can rally diverse innovators around a shared outcome, encourage rigorous validation, and accelerate breakthroughs for teaching and learning.
*This session is part of SXSW Crossover Day.
Speakers
- Kumar Garg, Renaissance Philanthropy
- Arati Prabhakar, Former Presidential Science & Technology Advisor
- Eden Xenakis, Bezos Family Foundation
- Steve Ritter, Carnegie Learning
When? March 12, 10:00 am
Where? Hilton Austin Downtown – Hilton Grand Ballroom (Salon HJK)
A New Talent Playbook for Education Innovation
As AI capabilities rapidly expand, realizing technology’s full potential in education requires edtech developers and mission-driven organizations to have access to strong technical talent. Yet many innovative organizations lack the expertise needed to fully develop high-potential ideas. Shared talent hubs and fractional engineering models offer promising ways to build technical capacity. If you develop education technology or support its growth as a funder, join to hear how these approaches can help close talent gaps and advance high-impact, AI-driven tools for teaching and learning.
Speakers
- Joanna Cannon, Walton Family Foundation
- Nancy Lue, Valhalla Foundation
- Sarah Johnson, Teaching Lab
- Thomas Christie, Renaissance Philanthropy
When? March 9, 9:00 am
Where? Austin Marriott Downtown – Waterloo Ballroom 4
Beyond the Degree: Expanding Student Career Pathways
How can states scale career pathway models that deliver for all learners? This session explores how to balance innovative state-level policies with strong regional implementation to avoid workforce deserts and ensure access to credentials of value and good jobs. Learn how to achieve alignment across a broad set of enabling conditions—policy, infrastructure, incentives, regional backbone organizations, first-mover education institutions, and industry partnerships—to create sustainable, scalable pathways from education to fulfilling careers.
Speakers
- Jamie Jutila, Walton Family Foundation
- Heather Sherman, Battelle
- Oluwaseyi Olalaye, Xchange Chicago
- John Garcia III, Strive Together
When? March 9, 11:00 am
Where? Austin Marriott Downtown – Waterloo Ballroom 4
Teaching Today: Innovations to Help Educators Stay & Thrive
Teachers are at the core of student success. Yet today, they’re being asked to do more than ever, often outside of contract hours and without the support they need to thrive. This session explores breakthrough solutions designed to make teaching more sustainable and rewarding. From AI-powered tools that reduce workload and save time to tech-forward solutions that foster motivation and sustainability, hear from leaders creating 21st-century solutions to retain teachers and better serve those at the center of student learning.
Speakers
- Carly Bolger, Walton Family Foundation
- Claire Smith, Hilight
- Yusuf Ahmad, Playlab
- Dana Lawit, NYC Public Schools
When? March 10, 2:00 pm
Where? Hilton Austin Downtown – Salon C
From Classroom to Career: Transforming High School with Tech
What if we invented high school today—in the age of AI, global interdependence, and human creativity? This panel explores how technology, especially AI, can help students chart their own learning journeys and connect classroom learning with purpose, identity, and the future of work. As automation and digital tools reshape learning, how can schools move beyond one-size-fits-all models to foster mastery, creativity, and human flourishing? Join us to reimagine high school from the ground up—from AI-powered learning environments to redefined teaching roles—to help every student thrive.
Speakers
- Jamie Jutila, Walton Family Foundation
- Gwen Baker, LearnerStudio
- David Berg, Big Picture Learning
- Bree Dusseault, Center on Reinventing Public Education
When? March 10, 4:00 pm
Where? Hilton Austin Downtown – Salon C
Data for Mobility: Building Better Career Navigation Tools
AI platforms for career navigation are rapidly emerging, but can they truly support the millions who need them most? What if the key to building better algorithms for these tools lies in better data? This panel brings together ed tech leaders and philanthropists working to improve AI-driven platforms for career advice through benchmark datasets. Join to explore how more robust and representative data can ensure systems are designed to deliver relevant, actionable support to those navigating complex career trajectories and seeking opportunities for upward mobility.
Speakers
- Kumar Garg, Renaissance Philanthropy
- Mike Meotti, Washington Student Achievement Council
- Jared Chung, CareerVillage.org
- Marie Groark, Schultz Family Foundation
When? March 10, 9:00 am
Where? Austin Marriott Downtown – Waterloo Ballroom 5-6
Prioritizing Education R&D: Voices from States & Districts
Across the country, school district leaders are increasingly prioritizing education research and development (R&D) as a key lever to improve student outcomes. Through two new networks, state and local education leaders are coming together to share their R&D successes and challenges, and to collaborate around new R&D initiatives. Join this session to hear from these leaders. They’ll share how they are driving evidence-based innovation – and how their collaboration across systems is helping them achieve more, faster.
*This session is accredited for CPE credit.
Speakers
- Timothy Michalak, Alliance for Learning Innovation
- Angélica Infante-Green, Rhode Island Department of Education
- Cady Ching, Summit Public Schools
- Dr. Carlos Lopez, Ypsilanti Community Schools
When? March 11, 9:00 am
Where? The Westin Austin Downtown – Paramount I-II
States Matter: Using Ed R&D to Drive Student Outcomes
With student achievement falling short across the U.S., there’s an opportunity for states to prioritize research and development as a catalyst for bold, evidence-driven systems change. R&D is powering continuous improvement, fueling innovation, and engaging communities in rethinking what’s possible. Join a state education leader and two leading education R&D advocates for this hands-on workshop designed for anyone interested in building the conditions and infrastructure for a thriving education R&D ecosystem in their community.
*This session is accredited for CPE credit.
Speakers
- Sara Schapiro, Alliance for Learning Innovation
- Leslie Colwell, Transcend
- Andrew Smith, NC General Assembly
When? March 9, 4:00 pm
Where? Courtyard Marriott – Brazos I-III
