Wednesday, December 4, 1:30 p.m.
MasterMind Session: When An At-Risk Summer Becomes A Worthwhile Life
e.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Join e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, an award-winning young adult author, as they share their experience of trekking across America to mentor at-promise youth, and came back with a testament to the power of showing up, standing up, and being heard. Be inspired and stand in solidarity to continue your impactful work with students after hearing e.E. Charlton-Trujillo’s stories of the challenges, hopes, and new beginnings found in the most unlikely places.
About e.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Mexican American author, filmmaker and youth literacy activist e.E. Charlton-Trujillo is the recipient of the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award 2024 for The Collectors. Trujillo has written several award-winning books for teens and children, most notably the Fat Angie series, an ALA Stonewall Award Winner, and Prizefighter en Mi Casa, a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner. Their Lupe Lopez: Rock Star series, co-authored with NYT Bestseller Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by award-winning illustrator Joe Cepeda, has received a number of accolades such as the International Latino Book Award, Junior Library Guild Gold and Bank Street Best Spanish Book. A Girl Can Build Anything also written with Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Keisha Morris was a National Science Teacher Association Winner. e.E. is the Executive Director of the youth literacy nonprofit Never Counted Out that supports access to books and creative mentorship. Trujillo is also a proud member of the Las Musas collective.
Thursday, December 5, 9:15 a.m.
MasterMind Session: How an Adventurous Spirit Can Unlock Greatness
Michael Matera
People can set their minds to magical and seemingly impossible ideas and through exploration. And
learning from the skills that come with it, they move the impossible into view for all to see. There comes
a time in each of our lives where we are called to step up to the proverbial line and venture into the
unknown. It’s our time as educational explorers. Time for us to take chances, time for us to embrace the
challenges that come with exploration, time for us to move beyond the known and shape this new world
of education. Together, let us set our course for greatness.
About Michael Matera
Michael Matera is an innovative educator and passionate advocate for creating fully engaged, student-centered classrooms. With his dynamic teaching methods, he has become a leading figure in education, pushing the boundaries of traditional teaching to create immersive learning experiences that place students at the heart of the learning process.
Michael is a pioneer in gamification, recognizing its potential to deepen student engagement. He believes in the power of play to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, making learning both motivating and fun.
Beyond the classroom, Michael shares his expertise through books, YouTube, podcasts, and social media, connecting with educators worldwide. He’s a sought-after speaker at conferences and workshops, inspiring others to transform education through playful, student-centered pedagogy.
Friday, December 6, 10:45 am
MasterMind Session: Real Self-Care at Work: It’s Not About Bubble Baths or Juice Cleanses
Pooja Lakshmin
Self-care is often promoted as beauty products and massages, but real self-care is a deeper, more sustainable process that involves making the tough decisions that align with our values. For educators, practicing real self-care is critical—not only for your personal well-being, but also to maintain the capacity to show up for your students and families, and prevent burnout within your teams. In this session, psychiatrist and best selling author Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, MD will share her framework for real self-care that you can actually stick with (not like that skin care routine you abandoned last year). You’ll come away with an understanding of why boundaries, compassion and values setting are not “soft skills” but instead mission critical components of living and working in a sustainable way, and feel empowered to foster a proactive culture of burnout prevention in your teams and schools.
About Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD is a psychiatrist, a best-selling author and a contributor to The New York Times. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine. Pooja has spent thousands of hours taking care of individuals struggling with burnout, despair, depression, and anxiety in my clinical practice. Her bestselling new book, REAL SELF-CARE: Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble-Baths Not Included, was named as an NPR Best Book of 2023, and has been featured on Good Morning America, NPR’s Code Switch and 1A, Talks at Google, The Ezra Klein Show, The New York Times, Vox, The Guardian, and more. Having gone down the rabbit hole of extreme wellness herself, Real Self-Care is Pooja’s solution to the gratitude lists and essential oils.
