School Safety, Gubernatorial Elections, Free Speech, & More – Policy Forum Preview

The Policy Forum at SXSW EDU features elevated policy-focused sessions that discuss the impact of public and higher education policy. This year's lineup examines a range of topics including student privacy, designing safer schools, the lack of school counselors, mental health in early learning, gubernatorial elections, campus free speech, and more.

Browse the 2019 Policy Forum programming below and sign in to the schedule or mobile app to favorite the sessions you are interested in attending.

Safer Schools Through Design

Jay Brotman – Managing Partner, Svigals + Partners
Jim Brewer – Chief Lobbyist, AIA
Karina Ruiz – Principal, BRIC Architecture
Stayton Bonner – Reporter, Condé Nast

Today’s Students Need New Policy Solutions

Julie Peller – Exec Dir, Higher Learning Advocates
James Kvaal – Pres, The Institute for College Access & Success
Alison Griffin – SVP, Whiteboard Advisors
Celia Simms – VP Government Relations, KinderCare

Education’s Tomorrowland

Jeb Bush – Governor, Foundation for Excellence in Education
Laura Meckler – National Education Writer, The Washington Post

First Jobs Matter: Innovating College to Career

Bridget Burns – Exec Dir, University Innovation Alliance
Melissa Korn – Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Michael J Sorrell – Pres, Paul Quinn College
Michelle Weise – Chief Innovation Officer, Strada Institute for the Future of Work

Why Is the Largest Classroom in the School Empty?

Kafi Kumasi – Assoc Professor, Wayne State University
Allison Mackley – NBCT School Librarian, Hershey High School - Derry Township School District
Azadeh Jamalian – Head of Education, The GIANT Room
John Chrastka – Exec Dir, EveryLibrary

Left Out: Getting More Students to Higher Ed

Jan Friese – Exec Dir, Texas Counseling Association
Jeremiah Gunderson – Dir, Veterans Svcs, The University of Texas at Austin
Liz Willen – Editor in Chief, The Hechinger Report

The Importance of Preserving Languages

Ana Roca Castro – CEO, Genius Plaza
Anthony Anwukah – Honorable Minister of Education, Federal Ministry of Education
Edward Ssebukyu – AC/PSS - Monitoring & Support Supervision, The Republic of Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports
Paul Mavima – Deputy Minister for Primary & Secondary Education, The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education

Fulfilling the Promise of Talent

Chemene Crawford – Assoc Vice Chancellor of Student Resources, Dallas County Community College District
Rosye Cloud – VP, Strategy & Innovation, College Promise Campaign
Ricardo Lopez – Superintendent, Garland ISD
Alfreda Norman – Senior Vice President , Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Students' Safety or Privacy? Why Not Both?

Michael Hawes – Dir of Student Privacy Policy, US Department of Education
Bryan Westerman – Student Data Privacy Officer, Denver Public Schools
Chad Marlow – Sr Advocacy & Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
Amelia Vance – Director of Education Privacy Project & Policy Counsel, The Future of Privacy Forum

It's Never Too Early: Mental Health in Early Ed

Ann Mastergeorge – Chairperson, Rockwell Endowed Child & Family Professor, Texas Tech University
Cathy McHorse – VP of Success By 6, United Way for Greater Austin
Jackie Mader – Multimedia Editor, The Hechinger Report
MJ Korpela – Family Services Director, Mainspring Schools

Governors & Education: 2019 & Beyond

Justin Barra – Dir of Policy, Education, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Seth Gerson – Program Dir, National Governors Association Education Division

Supporting the Teachers of Tomorrow

Matt Kramer – CEO of Wildflower Schools, Wildflower Schools
Sharif El-Mekki – Principal of Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker Campus, Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker Campus
Pedro Martinez – Superintendent, San Antonio ISD
Margaret Hoover – Host of PBS' Firing Line, PBS

Free Speech on Campus: Left, Right, & Center

Nathan Harden – Education Editor, RealClearPolitics
Heather Mac Donald – Thomas W. Smith Fellow, The Manhattan Institute
Robby Soave – Assoc Editor, Reason Foundation

Tragedy at Santa Fe HS: Lessons Learned

Gary Forward – Asst Chief, Santa Fe Independent School District
James Norman – Board Pres, Santa Fe Independent School District
Leigh Wall EdD – Superintendent, Santa Fe Independent School District
Pam Wells EdD – Exec Dir, Region 4 ESC

Register to attend SXSW EDU, March 4-7, to discover what’s shaping the future of education!

Jeb Bush, Laura Meckler, Edward Ssebukyu, Kafi Kumasi, Stayton Bonner, and Margaret Hoover.