Reimagining Math Keynotes: Engaging, Playful, and Purposeful

A keynote shouldn’t be something you endure—it should be something that invites you into possibility.

Whether I’m speaking to a room full of K–5 educators or district leaders, I approach each keynote with a blend of honesty, energy, and a little bit of humor. Math can be joyful. Math can be connective. And math can absolutely be for everyone—educators and students alike.

In my keynotes, I:

• Share real stories from the field (because we all need to feel seen).

• Model how math can look and feel different than the way many of us experienced it growing up.

• Invite audiences to reflect, laugh, and imagine new ways of engaging with their practice.

And yes, I often hear: “That’s the first time I’ve actually enjoyed a math keynote.” Which is the best compliment I could ask for.