Featured Session: Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Conversation on Leadership

Mar 4, 2025

2:30pm – 3:30pm CT

As Teach For America (TFA) approaches its 35th Anniversary, CEO Elisa Villanueva Beard will step down this spring after 27 years of transformative leadership. Join Elisa and Dan Porterfield, as they reflect on the lessons, challenges, and impact of Elisa’s nearly three decades of leadership in the education ecosystem. Together, they will explore the challenges and opportunities facing the K-12 education system, strategies for reimagining the teaching role to ensure its future, fostering student engagement, and creating pathways that truly prepare young people for college, careers, and life beyond school. This conversation will inspire and challenge educators, leaders, and advocates to think boldly about what’s possible in the future of education.

This is an accredited session for CPE credit.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of Dan Porterfield

Dan Porterfield

The Aspen Institute

photo of Elisa Villanueva Beard

Elisa Villanueva Beard

Teach For America

About
Format: Featured
Type: Session
Focus Area: K-12 Education
Accessibility
Interpreted ASL
Closed Captioned
Open Captioned