Dave Paunesku is co-founder and executive director of PERTS, a Stanford University center that scales up evidence-based innovations in order to advance educational equity. Dave’s work integrates learning sciences research, low-cost technologies, and strategic partnerships because he believes this integrated approach is critical to scaling up innovations to reach the millions of students who need them most. In 2010, Dave pioneered a new methodology for the large-scale, cost-effective implementation and evaluation of mindset programs. His research showed for the first time that mindset programs can raise student achievement, even when administered using low-cost, easy-to-scale web modules. This approach has been widely imitated since, and Dave continues to push the field’s boundaries: He plays a key role in nearly all of the largest ongoing mindset program evaluations, and he has led partnerships that have disseminated mindset programs to millions of students.

Cathy Williams is the Co-Founder and the Executive Director of youcubed, a new center at Stanford University. Previously Cathy served as the Director of K-12 Mathematics in the Vista Unified School District where her professional development series earned a California State Golden Bell Award. The professional development in Vista Unified included a unique technology infused K-12 mathematics program that provided workshops for parents, teachers and administrators, and included talks and coaching by Jo Boaler. Cathy’s former roles have included a high school mathematics teacher, AVID coordinator, and mathematics department chair and district curriculum leader over an 18-year span before she became a curriculum and instruction administrator in 2003. Cathy served for seven years as the San Diego County Office of Education K-12 Mathematics Coordinator where her key projects included developing the book and professional development program, Math Language that Works and the online math teacher support program Getting Ready for Algebra. Her professional development series, Algebraic Reasoning Through Inquiry (ARTI) supported many district teachers in San Diego County. During her County Office time Cathy served as the lead coordinator for the first generation California State Early Assessment Program (EAP) professional development series.

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