Attending SXSW EDU 2025 was a whirlwind of thought-provoking discussions, inspiring people, and big ideas shaping the future of education. As I reflect on my time in Austin, five words and phrases stand out as defining themes of my experience.
EA CEO Andrew Rice spoke in front of more than 200 attendees at a panel with Margaret Honey (the President & CEO of the Scratch Foundation) and Vicki Zubovic (Chief External Relations Officer at Khan Academy) facilitated by Joshua Elder (Vice President & Head of Grantmaking at the Siegel Family Endowment). One phrase that echoed throughout the discussion was "unsexy tech."
While flashy dashboards and visually engaging reports tend to grab attention, the real need for innovation in education is in sustainable and scalable investments in data infrastructure. The panel reinforced the importance of prioritizing the foundational—yet often overlooked—technologies that make data systems work efficiently and equitably. It was a reminder that meaningful progress requires us to investigate beyond what’s merely appealing on the surface. Given the tumultuous changes in the federal education landscape, where funding is dwindling and long-term investments in education are uncertain, this conversation felt particularly urgent. Without stable investments in data infrastructure, even the most innovative technology solutions risk becoming unsustainable in the long run.
At a hands-on workshop on Inclusive R&D facilitated by Sunanna Chand at the Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Jean-Claude Brizard from Digital Promise, and Auditi Chakravarty from the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF), Sunanna introduced the concept of composting.
This is when an idea early in the R&D cycle is not working out and needs to be put aside (not in the trash, but in the compost). The compost memo (example here) is a key knowledge management tool to ensure the learnings aren't lost but can be preserved for when they may be relevant to recycle or reuse later, during another R&D cycle. This concept resonated with me, both as a great metaphor and a concrete tool to use for all kinds of creative problem-solving approaches.
One of the highlights of my time at SXSW EDU was leading a mentoring session. Engaging with emerging leaders in education and technology reminded me of the power of mentorship—not just as a transfer of knowledge but as a space for mutual learning.
The conversations I had during this session reinforced the importance of fostering opportunities for guidance, support, and connection, particularly in a field as rapidly evolving as education technology. Many of the mentees I spoke with expressed anxiety about their futures, given the uncertainty in the federal education landscape. With shifting policies, funding changes, and political instability, career trajectories in education are feeling more precarious than ever. Mentorship, in this context, is not just about professional growth—it’s about helping each other navigate an uncertain and rapidly changing environment.
During an intimate breakfast session at the Public House for the Future hosted by the Siegel Family Endowment and the Stanford d.school, I had the opportunity to hear from five finalists of the Learning Landscapes Challenge.
Their work exemplifies "multidimensional infrastructure," a concept that integrates social, digital, and physical infrastructure to create innovative solutions for marginalized learners. Having served as a Phase 1 judge and Phase 2 mentor for this challenge, I was thrilled to see these finalists present their ideas and experiences in front of a captive audience. The session underscored the importance of holistic, intersectional approaches to problem-solving in education.
Despite its massive scale, SXSW EDU felt like a close-knit community. In every session, I found familiar faces—whether it was one of my mentees unknowingly sitting next to me at the Inclusive R&D workshop, the facilitator of Andrew’s panel who also hosted the Learning Landscapes Challenge at the Public House for the Future, or reconnecting with past and present colleagues over coffee.
I found one of Andrew’s fellow panelists, Margaret Honey, at a meetup with the EdSafe AI Alliance, where she shared insights with me and the Cristina Heffernan (Executive Director and Founder of ASSISTments) on her pioneering career journey in technology education. The conference was a powerful reminder that the education space thrives on collaboration and shared passion. The connections formed here, whether new or longstanding, reinforce the collective mission to create meaningful change.
Each of these words encapsulates a different facet of my SXSW EDU 2025 experience—challenging assumptions, fostering innovation, strengthening networks, and prioritizing sustainable impact. I left Austin energized to tackle what’s ahead. SXSW EDU 2025 reminded me that the work we do is not just about ed tech products or enticing new projects—it’s about building ecosystems that support learning and growth for all.