2023 Keynote Speakers
Friday, November 17, 2023

Keynote Speaker: Tan K Huynh

@TanKHuynh is a secondary school teacher specializing in English language acquisition, an author, podcaster, and consultant. He has taught students from 5th to 10th grade in domestic public, private, and charter schools, but the bulk of his experience has been in international schools. He has also taught social studies and spends much of his days co-planning and co-teaching. Tan is trained in sheltered instruction, WIDA, culturally-responsive instruction, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, and the Collaborative Instructional Cycle. Tan shares his application of research-based strategies on his blogpodcast, and online courses, with the hopes of celebrating teachers who answer the call to serve multilingual learners. He holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in language acquisition and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish.

Tan Huynh has lived the life that many English language learners live which gives him a unique understanding of the challenges our students face. Tan currently lives and teaches in Vietnam. He travels a lot to participate in conferences around the world, he co-authored two books, DIY PD: A Guide to Self-Directed Learning for Educators of Multilingual Learners and Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals. You can learn more about his work by going to TanKHuynh.com.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Topic: Our Languages, Our Cultures, Our Assets

Keynote Speakers:  Kevin Lindsey & Dr. Michael Favor

The United States is going through dramatic change that will not only fundamentally transform our nation’s racial and ethnic demographics for those alive today but also for the next two generations.  In 2025, 1 in 4 public school students will be an English Language Learner (EL). Presently, 10% of students, with more than 300 home languages, are EL students in Minnesota. As we approach this strategic inflection point in our society, educators and educational systems that can create new paradigms to see, value, and celebrate students are posed to not only be successful in Minnesota but also among the very best in the United States.

Join Minnesota Humanities Center CEO Kevin Lindsey, ISD 917 Superintendent Dr. Michael Favor, and a panel of past and current EL students for an engaging session on what is working well for EL students, what we can do together to improve EL education, and how EL can rightfully assume leadership in changing the landscape of education.

Biographies:

Kevin Lindsey serves as the CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), an organization whose vision is to create a just society that is curious, connected, and compassionate. Lindsey, a widely respected public policy advocate and lawyer, has previously served in the Cabinet of the Minnesota Governor as the Commissioner of the Department of Human Rights. Kevin has been honored by the University of Iowa College of Law with its Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award, the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts with its Civitas Award for promoting Liberal Arts education, and twice by Minnesota Lawyer with its Diversity Award.  Lindsey’s career has focused on leveraging personal stories, finding solutions to complex problems, and building an inclusive democracy for all.

Dr. Michael Favor is the Superintendent of Intermediate School District 917. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Superintendent of Roseville Area Schools, Interim Superintendent of Monticello Public Schools, and Executive Director of Robbinsdale Area Schools. He has also served as a high school principal at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, Minneapolis Southwest High School, and Minneapolis North Community School.  Dr. Favor is widely known as a transformational leader in educational equity in the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. His strategic leadership has been instrumental in improving academic, social and emotional outcomes for students in each of the districts he has served.