YASS Summit
YASS Summit
Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame
Oct 10th 9AM-5PM EDT
Welcome
Diana Diaz-Harrison, Master of Ceremonies
Founder of Arizona Autism Charter Schools, the 2022 Yass Prize Winner
Diana was a mom on a mission when she started Arizona Autism Charter Schools. Her son Sammy had been diagnosed with autism and there weren’t any quality public school options for the 1 in 40 students diagnosed with autism. With that statistic as her north star, Diana set out to do something about it. She left a vibrant career in media to start this extraordinary option for kids. It wouldn’t have been possible with Arizona’s pioneering charter school law. Diana welcomes our guests and gives us our north star for the Summit.
Why we are here: What it Means to STOP for Education
Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless… What does it all mean and why is it driving the most growth-oriented philanthropic venture strategy in more than a decade?
It was Janine’s passion for education opportunity for all students that sparked the creation of the Yass Prize and the STOP Awards Initiative. Her vision, brought to life by a group with 30 years of disrupting the status quo was the magic combination to bring about a renaissance of people ready to STOP for education.
- Jeanne Allen, Yass Foundation for Education, Founder & CEO, CER
- Janine Yass, Founder & President, The Yass Prize
- Moderator: Diana Diaz-Harrison, Founder of Arizona Autism Charter Schools, the 2022 Yass Prize Winner
States that are Stuck: Dealing with Obstacles to Education Freedom
You would think that with scores as low as 20% reading proficiency in major cities, 22% able to understand basic workings of government and math scores lower than at any time in history, every state leader would be up in arms and ready to act. Where is the resolve to fuel our unity in expanding opportunity for all students? Meet policymakers from both parties who have been working in states that are stuck over just such a question.
- Janel Artis-Wright, Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools and Texas Advocate
- Honorable Representative Phil Christofanelli, Missouri State Legislator
- Honorable Alisha Thomas-Searcy, author and former Georgia state legislator
- Emily Anne Gullickson, Deputy Secretary of Education, Virginia
- Moderator: Steve Perry, Head of Schools, Capital Preparatory Schools
Education Freedom’s New Frontier: Show Me the Money
Equitable education starts and ends with money. So why isn’t today’s debate about all the money, from every source. What will it take to win the battle for freedom? These accomplished leaders in the fields of education, entertainment and investment will rock the roof off the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
- Troy Carter, Founder & CEO, Q&A Technology & Media Company
- Jeff Yass, Co-Founder, Susquehanna Investment Group
- Moderator: Randall Lane, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Magazine
What Investors Need To Know About The Education Market
Too often the investment community is unaware of the long tail of education innovations that may take years to make an ROI but are nevertheless worthwhile. The world of tech driven learning is truly disrupting what the markets used to look for when investing. What do analysts and experts in the field see in their crystal ball? Learn from the pros what they look for and what other investors should know.
- Kelly Fuller, Managing Director, Head of Education Technology and Services at BMO Capital Markets
- Michael Moe, co-founder of GSV Asset Management
- Moderator: Emma Whitford, Forbes Senior Education Reporter
Creating A More Connected America
Many keep asking why America is so divided. But some simply think about the solutions. When David graduated from college he drove across the country to learn more about issues in education in impoverished communities. The big idea hit him, and he launched a new effort to create connective tissue among young people. Similarly, Tim, having spent years working with Boys and Girls Clubs realized there was a better way to help students achieve their dreams. It all starts with connecting students to who we are as a nation and the best kind of mentors.
- Tim Hogan, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships · Roadtrip Nation
- David McCullough III, Co-Founder, CEO · American Exchange Project
- Moderator: Kenisha Skaggs, Director and Leader Teacher, SOAR Academy
Fusing The Best In Education Innovation with Industry Demands
From building character in kids of promise to creating meaningful and rewarding work opportunities, when the Yass Prize first encountered these innovators, we realized they would STOP at nothing to ensure students have a trajectory from school to career. Their work, fueled largely by their own personal experiences, and accelerated by being Yass Prize finalists in 2022, is creating exponential change across the US.
- Diana Diaz-Harrison, Founder and CEO, Arizona Autism Charter Schools
- Aaron Frumin, Founder, Executive Director, unCommon Construction New Orleans
- Mike Long, CEO, SailFuture, St. Petersburg
- Cris Gulacy-Worrel, Vice President of Advocacy & Development, Oakmont Education, Cleveland
- Moderator: Brian Curcio, CEO and Founder, Rapunzl
Cutting the Deal: Secrets to Making the Sausage
An intimate and insider conversation about what the nation’s chief executives must do to succeed in achieving education transformation. Among education freedom leaders, there are few as emblematic as to what it takes to achieve success as these two leaders.
- Kevin Stitt, Governor, Oklahoma
- Kevin Chavous, President, Stride K12, Inc. and former DC City Council Member
- Moderator: Jeanne Allen, Director of the Yass Foundation, and Founder and CEO, The Center for Education Reform
What's Opportunity Without Innovation: The Frontier of AI
Hear from some of the nation’s most cutting edge entrepreneurs, all Forbes 30 under 30 winners, who have put the prospects of comfortable jobs and reliable funding on hold to build their own solutions to what ails education for too many students. Their dreams are helping others to dream.
- Edna Martinson, Boddle Learning
- Lisa Wang, Almost Fun
- Curtis Carmichael, Source Code Academy
- Moderator: Taylor Shead, CEO and Founder of STEMuli Studios
