ASU+GSV Summit Sessions

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Cordell Carter, Esq., Executive Director at Aspen Institute; Alejandro Gibes de Gac, CEO & Founder at Springboard Collaborative and Paloma Learning; Heejae Lim, Founder & CEO at TalkingPoints; Antoinette Banks, CEO at Expert IEP; and Anupama Vaid, Founder & President at ParentSquare.The session explored how empowering families as true partners in education can drive academic success and reduce absenteeism. Through the lens of groundbreaking programs and research, the speakers highlighted innovative strategies that equip families with tools to support learning at home and emphasized the critical role of technology in fostering meaningful school-family connections. They discussed how districts and educators can leverage digital platforms, communication tools, and data-driven insights to engage families, build trust, and create equitable, thriving school communities. The session demonstrated how collaboration and technology together can unlock the full potential of families to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Trish Sparks, CEO at Clever; Ben Dodson, CEO at Doowii; Patrick Gittisriboongul, Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Innovation at Lynwood Unified School District; Doug Levin, Director at K12 SIX; and Eric Gorski, Managing Editor for Local News at Chalkbeat.The session explored how generative AI and new safety technologies are redefining the education landscape, presenting schools with the critical challenge of enhancing learning outcomes while safeguarding students. The speakers discussed the intersection of AI-driven innovation and cybersecurity in K-12 districts, sharing real-world strategies for creating secure, modern learning environments. They addressed how districts can protect student data, manage limited resources, and ensure students benefit from secure and equitable digital tools.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Nate McClennen, Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at Getting Smart; Vriti Saraf, CEO & Co-founder at Ed3 DAO; Carole G. Basile, Dean at ASU / MLF College for Teaching and Learning Innovation; Gwen Baker, Advisor at LearnerStudio; and Norman Atkins, Managing Partner at Array Education.The session examined how, as districts across the U.S. create competency-based "Portraits of a Graduate" to define student success, it is equally critical to reimagine the "Portrait of a Teacher" in the Age of AI. The speakers explored how teachers must embody happiness, agency, and critical thinking to model these traits for students. They discussed what aspects of teaching should remain human-led, what can be supported by AI—such as tutoring, personalization, and curation—and what new competencies educators will need. The session offered insights into updating expectations for teachers, rethinking the teaching role, and hiring more thoughtfully for the future.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Charles Elliott, Head of Industry at Google.The session explored how generative AI has moved beyond the hype, ushering in a new wave of agentic and multimodal experiences that have transformed how we interact with information and each other. Charles Elliott addressed common misconceptions surrounding generative AI and showcased practical applications, including intelligent agents, avatar creation, personalized learning styles, code recommendation tools, and more. The session provided insights into the evolution of generative AI in education—highlighting where it has been and where it is headed.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Akshay Kirtikar, Senior Product Manager at Google, and Mary Spence, Program Manager at Google.The session explored Google's belief that AI should benefit everyone, highlighting free tools like the Gemini app and NotebookLM as part of their full-stack AI solution. The speakers discussed how faculty and students could leverage Google AI tools to transform the way they work, teach, and learn—from accelerating research and literature reviews to drafting lesson plans and creating study guides.

Jon Woodard, leading innovation at Wolfram Research, shares insights on building AI math tutors. Sean Davenport, a Google Fellow and NYC Superintendent, explores AI's potential to enhance math learning for diverse student populations. Jiani Hou, an expert in online education from Think Academy, discusses adapting AI teaching methods from China for the U.S. Together, they delve into how AI can transform math education, tackle long-standing challenges, and foster deeper understanding, making math more engaging and accessible.

In this session, Mindy Sjoblom, Founder and CEO of OnYourMark, and Stephanie Downey Toledo, Superintendent of Central Falls School District, join Mark Angel, CEO of Amira Learning, to tackle the pressing issues of literacy in modern classrooms. They discuss innovative tech solutions for multilingual learners and share how personalized reading instruction can transform educational outcomes. The trio also explores essential strategies for supporting educators through professional development and the importance of collaboration to ensure all students thrive.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Christina Grant, Executive Director at CEPR – Harvard University; Rahul Kalita, Co-Founder at Tutored by Teachers; Susanna Loeb, Professor at Stanford University; Marc Sternberg, Co-Founder & Managing Director at A-Street; Anthony Smith, Deputy Superintendent at Denver Public Schools; and Sohan Choudhury, Co-founder and CEO at Flint.The speakers explored the strategies and conditions that make tutoring programs effective in driving student success. Drawing from real-world examples, they discussed scalable models and innovative approaches that are delivering measurable results. The session emphasized how tutoring, when designed and implemented thoughtfully, can become a cornerstone of educational equity and a transformative force in student learning outcomes.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Lisa Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies & Workforce Policy at McDonald's Corporation; Maria Anguiano, Senior Advisor at Arizona State University; Maria Flynn, President & CEO at Jobs for the Future; Ryan Stowers, Senior Vice President at Stand Together; and Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse.The speakers explored how, amid stagnating college attendance and completion rates, more individuals are entering the workforce early to avoid student debt—shifting the responsibility for career growth and education to employers. They discussed how frontline roles in industries like fast food, skilled trades, and customer service are becoming powerful platforms for learning and advancement. The session highlighted how employers are creating meaningful pathways to upward mobility, playing a vital role in reshaping the workforce and rebuilding the middle class.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Shravan Goli, Chief Executive Officer at Colibri Group; Max Wessel, Co-CEO at Degreed; Kenneth Schumacher, Founder & CEO at Ropes AI; and Taryn Hess, Principal, Talent Enablement & Transformation at EPAM Systems.The speakers discussed how today’s fast-changing work environment has made it increasingly difficult to find candidates who meet every qualification out of the gate. They emphasized the importance of hiring for “slope”—a person’s potential and the speed at which they realize it—rather than solely for static credentials. The session explored how leaders can identify high-potential talent and equip them with the tools and support needed to accelerate performance and thrive amid ongoing transformation.