2027 Keynote Speakers
Cynthia Marshall
Former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Fortune 500 Executive and Top Leadership and Culture Transformation Speaker
First General Session | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Monday, January 25
Cynthia (Cynt) Marshall is the former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and a nationally recognized leader in culture transformation, people-first leadership, and organizational change.
When she joined the Mavericks in 2018, she brought transparency, trust, and a strong values-based approach to reshaping the organization’s culture. Before that, she spent 36 years at AT&T, where she developed leaders, strengthened employee engagement, and helped align people with the company’s vision and priorities.
In her keynote, “Leading with Heart,” Marshall will share why strong organizations begin with people. She will reflect on the leadership principles that guided her through major change and the importance of building workplaces grounded in trust, belonging, and shared values. With her signature energy, humor and candor, Marshall will offer practical insight into leading through challenges, bringing out the best in others and creating a culture where people and performance can thrive.
Session Sponsor
Sal Khan
Founder and CEO of Khan Academy and Schoolhouse.world, Vision Steward and Board Member at TED
Second General Session | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Tuesday, January 26
Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy and Vision Steward and board member of TED, has spent nearly two decades expanding access to high-quality education worldwide. What began as online tutoring for his cousins has grown into a free learning platform serving learners in more than 190 countries and 50 languages.
Across Texas, superintendents are weighing a harder question than how to lift scores: What should a graduate actually be able to do? In his keynote, “What Does Good Look Like Now? Rethinking the Bar for Student Learning in 2027,” Khan will make the case that the bar has moved toward real mastery, original thinking, and the confidence to use both long after the test. He’ll share what he’s seeing in classrooms around the world, where new tools genuinely help and where they fall short, and what it takes for a district to raise expectations without leaving students behind.
Recognized as one of TIME‘s 100 Most Influential People, Khan is the author of The One World Schoolhouse and Brave New Words and co-author of Teaching Students to Use AI Ethically & Responsibly.
Session Sponsor
Roosevelt Nivens
2026 National Superintendent of the Year, TASA President, Lamar CISD Superintendent
Third General Session | 9:45 - 11:15 a.m. | Wednesday, January 27
Roosevelt Nivens, TASA president and superintendent of Lamar CISD, was named the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year by AASA. He is the first Texas superintendent to receive the nation’s highest honor for school system leadership in 25 years.
Nivens has spent nearly three decades in public education, beginning as a teacher and serving in campus and district leadership roles before becoming a superintendent. Since joining Lamar CISD in 2021, he has led one of Texas’ fastest-growing school districts, serving nearly 50,000 students.
Long before he became the nation’s top superintendent, Nivens was a child who struggled in school and faced a difficult childhood. While some doubted his potential, other educators believed in him and helped change the direction of his life.
In this deeply personal keynote, Nivens will share how he overcame obstacles to become an award-winning education leader. His story is a powerful reminder of the lasting influence educators can have — and what becomes possible when someone believes in a child.
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