Opening Remarks – Paul Reville The End of Average – Todd Rose Are you above average? Is your child an A student? Every day we are measured against averages, and we’re judged on how far from them we fall. Indeed, measuring ourselves against the average is so ingrained in our consciousness that we don’t even question it. But what if that’s not the best way to judge success and failure? In Todd Rose’s new book “The End of Average,” he demonstrates that no one is average. And that, he argues, has enormous practical consequences. While we know people learn in distinctive ways, schools and businesses have been designed around the so-called “average person.” This model ignores our differences and fails at recognizing talent. It’s time to change it. Rethinking High School: Activating Innovation – Russlynn Ali The American public high school was invented more than a century ago, and it has remained frozen in time. As the modern world has moved on, our students are falling further and further behind. The answer? Reimagine high school itself. Russlynn Ali, former Assistant Secretary, Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education, will share lessons from a movement doing exactly that. What happens when the inventors of the next American high school include the actual stakeholders: students, teachers, community leaders and beyond? Learning as a Lifestyle: Passion, People, Purpose – Connie Yowell LRNG is tackling the nation’s opportunity gap by starting where youth are, enabling young people to pursue their passions, connect with peers and mentors and find fulfilling 21st century opportunities and jobs. CEO Connie Yowell will discuss how LRNG is building an ecosystem of learning that combines in-school, out-of-school, employer-based and online learning experiences into a seamless network that is open and inviting to all youth. Through the LRNG platform and digital badges, LRNG is opening paths to higher education and employment. Learn how cities, businesses, nonprofits and schools can join the movement to ensure all young people can develop their full potential in the connected age.