07/2026, Submitted Proposals to SXSW and Innovative Schools

Well, I'm officially too big for my britches. I woke up with a glut of audacity this past week and I've pitched workshop proposals to both the Innovative Schools Summit and SXSW EDU. I've also finished the outline of the 1000 Cranes for Education book that will be coming out this fall. 

The primary message of the book, and the ongoing legacy of 1000 Cranes, is that by centering humanity, we rebalance systems. The book has practical, teacher-created, student-tested, easy-to-implement strategies and tools to center humanity and accelerate learning and compound joy. 

The workshop is called "Centering Humanity to Rebalance Education." Here's the pitch:

Education is at an inflection point. As AI reshapes learning, teacher burnout rises, behaviors reach a tipping point, and student needs grow more complex, our current path is incompatible with survival. Yet with the right mindset, educators can walk directly into the fray with joy, wonder, and the power of transformation. This workshop delivers teacher-created, teacher-tested, high-yield strategies that lighten teachers' load, give kids more of what they need and restore the magic of learning. 

Takeaway #1: Building community through curiosity: Questions and Tasks that set the stage for learning

Takeaway #2: Don’t be a garbage human: Sparking intrinsic motivation and collaborative learning by being a better neighbor

Takeaway #3: Creativity for differentiation: Step-by-step guide for unleashing creativity in the classroom to boost access and accelerate learning

I'll keep you all posted on whether the proposals get picked up.