Keynote Speakers
Gwyn ap Harri
CEO XP Schools, UK
Gwyn is the CEO and co-founder of XP School Trust, creating two new secondary schools, XP and XP East (Grades 6-12) and welcoming four existing primary schools into the Trust (Grades K-5). XP is based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK.
Highly influenced by Expeditionary Learning and High Tech High schools in the USA, Gwyn has led XP to ‘Outstanding’ categorisation by the UK government, ensuring the three dimensions of academic progress, beautiful work and character growth are at the core of each school.
Students follow an expeditionary curriculum, learning through academically rigorous, cross-curricular learning expeditions to produce authentic and meaningful products that exist beyond the school walls. XP’s students have books for sale in the town bookstores, documentary films played at the town theatre, art displayed in the town galleries and civic buildings and have held many public events including poetry jams and scientific lectures.
Gwyn and his co-founder Andy Sprakes have written and published a book about their story and their schools, called ‘How We XP’
Gwyn is also the CEO of ed-tech company realsmart.co.uk where his learning portfolio software is used in over 300 schools in the UK and around the world. Gwyn has also designed systems for the UK government, using technology to underpin whole school improvement at a national scale.
Previously, Gwyn led the Computer Science department at Hatfield High School, Doncaster for six years and worked in the technology and music industries during his early career.
Bob Lenz
CEO PBLWorks
Bob Lenz is CEO of the Buck Institute for Education (BIE), dba PBLWorks, the industry leading organization in providing professional development and support services for K-12 Project Based Learning. He co-authored Transforming Schools: Using Project Based Learning, Performance Assessment and Common Core Standards, and is recognized internationally as a leader in Project Based Learning and school redesign.
Bob began his career as a middle and high school teacher, then co-founded Envision Education and its innovative project based schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, which help students become the first in their family to attend AND graduate from college. He was Envision’s CEO and Chief of Innovation from 2001 to 2015.
Bob and his organizations have worked successfully on projects funded by the Hewlett Foundation, Stuart Foundation, Gates Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Irvine Foundation, Carnegie Corporation Foundation, Project Management Institute Education Foundation, ECMC Foundation, and Castle Foundation. Bob has led efforts to expand deeper learning throughout the United States, and is called upon to speak in the U.S. and internationally about the power of Project Based Learning to transform learning and lives.
Bob grew up on the island of Catalina, off the coast of Southern California, and now lives near San Francisco. Now that their children are in college, he and his wife have more time for raising their breeder guide dog, following rugby matches across the world, cycling, and stand up paddle boarding.
Gia Truong
CEO Envision Schools
Gia Truong currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at Envision Education, a mission-driven organization committed to transforming the lives of low-income, first-generation college-bound students. Envision’s unique approach consists of two strategies: operating charter schools and providing training and consulting services to others through its Envision Learning Partners division. Under Gia’s leadership, our acclaimed Portfolio Defense model is helping students, in our schools and around the country, develop what they need most to thrive: academic knowledge, leadership skills, the ability to reflect, and a mindset for growth. Gia leads Envision with a strong commitment to and focus on educational equity for all students, as well as a focus on providing exceptional Deeper Learning opportunities to students.
Gia is a Leading for Equity Fellow with the National Equity Project, where she collaborates with other leaders to foster positive change on behalf of historically under-served students and families. She is also a member of Education Leaders of Color, an organization dedicated to elevating the leadership, voices and influence of people of color in education.
Prior to joining Envision, Gia was the Executive Officer of Oakland Unified’s Curriculum and Instruction Department, where she led strategic planning and reorganization, as well as OUSD’s Effective Principals and Leadership Task Force. Prior to that she was OUSD’s Network Executive Officer and led a network of middle schools. She also served as principal of Urban Promise Academy and as a teacher for 8 years in both district and charter schools. Gia has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Asian-American Studies from San Francisco State University, an M.A. in Teaching from Brown University, and earned her Administrative Credential through the New Leaders Principal Residency Program.