This year's SXSWedu Conference & Festival brought together many ideas and themes surrounding the present and future of education. At the heart of many of the dynamic discussions was one of the most important voices: teachers and educators.

Wrapping up the exciting 2013 Conference & Festival, Bill Gates delivered an unforgettable closing keynote presentation to the SXSWedu community of passionate education stakeholders from across the learning landscape, March 7 in Austin, Texas.

Keynote: Bill Gates - SXSWedu 2013 from SXSWedu on Vimeo.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) were a hot topic at this year's SXSWedu Conference & Festival. In a special keynote conversation moderated by Laura Pappano of The New York Times, Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng and edX President Anant Agarwal discussed the potential massive open online courses hold in addressing today's challenges in education.

Keynote: Asenath Andrews - SXSWedu 2013 from SXSWedu on Vimeo.

Founder and principal of the Catherine Ferguson Academy, Asenath Andrews, gave the opening keynote presentation at SXSWedu, Tuesday March 5, 2013. Watch Asenath Andrews 2013 SXSWedu keynote presentation now!

This morning at 10:30am Bill Gates will be delivering his Keynote Speech in Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center. You can also catch live streaming video of his Keynote on the SXSWedu Live page.

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will address the foundation's U.S. education work, which focuses primarily on ensuring all students are prepared for success in college and career.

Bill Gates' name is already synonymous with technology innovation and philanthropy and, driven by the work of the Gates Foundation, education is clearly a personal priority. Gates' background as a global business executive and leading philanthropist gives him a unique vantage point into education, one we know will be eagerly received by SXSWedu attendees.

In a special keynote conversation moderated by award-winning writer with The New York Times Laura Pappano, Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng and edX President Anant Agarwal will focus on massive open online courses (MOOCs), a rapidly growing interest in the education space, designed to offer large-scale participation through the web. You can also catch this Keynote Conversation from the comfort of home through SXSWedu Live.

You don't want to miss today's keynote presentation from Asenath Andrews at 4:30pm in Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center.

Asenath Andrews has shined as an inspiration in the education community as the founder and principal of Catherine Ferguson Academy, an alternative public high school for young mothers that also provides early education services for the children of the high school moms.

The school, which holds both middle and high school classes, boasts a 90% graduation rate and the vast majority of those graduating attend 2-4 year colleges. For the school’s efforts, it was recognized as one of the 12 schools selected nationally as a Breakthrough High School by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 2004.

SXSWedu is thrilled to reveal the remaining 2013 keynote speakers. In addition to Bill Gates, the 2013 SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas will feature keynote remarks from Asenath Andrews, inspirational school founder and principal from the Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit, Michigan. A third keynote will address Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) with Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, and Anant Agarwal, president of edX. This keynote conversation will be moderated by an award-winning reporter from The New York Times, Laura Pappano.

Opening Keynote Asenath Andrews

Tuesday, March 5
The founder and principal of Catherine Ferguson Academy, an alternative public high school for teen mothers that also provides early education services for the children of the high school moms, Asenath Andrews will give the opening Keynote remarks at SXSWedu 2013.

The academy, which boasts a 90% graduation rate with the vast majority of graduating students attending 2-4 year colleges, holds both middle and high school classes. Catherine Ferguson Academy has been recognized as one of twelve Breakthrough High Schools by the National Association of Secondary Principals and is one of Asenath's many accomplishments. She was also honored as a Milken Family Foundation Educator of the Year in 1992 for her work at the academy and received an award as a Fulbright Hayes Study Tour Teacher in Zimbabwe.

Photo Courtesy Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation: Christopher FarberSXSWedu is thrilled to announce that Bill Gates will deliver the closing keynote address at the 2013 event, March 4-7 in Austin, Texas.

Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will address the foundation’s U.S. education work, which focuses primarily on ensuring all students are prepared for success in college and career.

Education has been a core pillar of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation since its inception. Gates has been a vocal champion of using innovative technologies to widen access to quality education across K-12 and higher education.

Register to attend SXSWedu today and join the growing community March 4-7, 2013. Discounted registration rates are available through January 11.

SXSWedu 2012 Keynote Arne Duncan.
Photo by Virgil McCulloughEach day of the event, SXSWedu features an innovative education leader in a special keynote presentation. Last year LeVar Burton, Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan took center stage as the 2012 Keynotes. Watch the videos of their presentation on Youtube and Vimeo now.

SXSWedu looks forward to announcing the 2013 keynote speakers this January. Sign up for the SXSWedu Newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news and register to attend SXSWedu, March 4-7, 2013 in Austin, Texas by January 11 to save over 25% off the walkup rate.