This year’s Empowering Tomorrow’s MINDs User Conference took place on February 20, 2025 and over 500 passionate educators, district leaders, and innovators joined in a dynamic virtual setting. The event featured forward-thinking sessions, inspiring keynotes, and powerful closing messages, all aimed at transforming math education and setting the stage for future breakthroughs.
The conference opened with an unforgettable keynote from Kevin Carroll, renowned speaker, author, and instigator of inspiration. In his session, “Play@Work,” Kevin emphasized that play is serious business, highlighting its critical role in fueling creativity, building connections, and driving real change.
Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Kevin shared how a simple red rubber ball became a symbol of hope, resilience, and possibility in his life. Growing up in Philadelphia, he found belonging and purpose through play, and that same spirit of curiosity and connection continues to shape his work today.
His message to educators and district leaders was clear and compelling:
The event continued with a diverse range of sessions led by MIND Education experts and district leaders, all designed to challenge traditional approaches to math education and provide actionable strategies for administrators, educators, and coaches.
Attendees explored topics such as:
As the conference neared its close, MIND Education CEO Brett Woudenberg delivered a personal message to the attendees.
He began by reflecting on the powerful themes woven throughout the day, from Kevin Carroll’s keynote on play and creativity to the transformational learning experiences explored in every session. Brett acknowledged the urgent challenge facing math education today:
“The way math has been taught for generations isn’t working. We’ve spent decades treating math as a set of steps to memorize—rewarding speed over understanding—and leaving too many students convinced that they ‘just don’t belong in math.’”
He called on district leaders and educators to be the driving force behind change:
“Real learning—the kind that lasts the kind that shapes confident thinkers—happens when students are given the space to struggle to make sense of problems and to truly SEE math for themselves.”
Brett emphasized that this work starts with the people in the (virtual) room—the educators, district leaders, and champions who create the conditions where students believe in their own ability to problem-solve and persist.
“What happens in math class doesn’t stay in math class. It extends into how students approach challenges, how they persist, how they see themselves as capable problem solvers, and the world needs problem solvers.”
He closed with a commitment from MIND Education:
“We are fully committed to standing with you in this work. Not just with tools not just with programs—but with a shared purpose: to change the way math is learned so that every student has the chance to build the thinking skills they need for their future… and solve the world’s most challenging problems.”
And with that, Brett introduced Nigel Nisbet, setting the stage for one final thought-provoking moment in the conference.
Nigel Nisbet, MIND Education’s Vice President of Content Creation, closed out the conference with a powerful reminder: Math is meant to be experienced.
In his session, "The Power in Experience," Nigel spoke about the difference between memorizing procedures and truly understanding math concepts. He illustrated how the brain makes meaning through connections, struggle, and discovery—not through passive instruction.
Nigel urged educators to shift away from surface-level learning and towards deep, experiential understanding, reinforcing that math is not about getting the right answer quickly—but rather about developing the thinking skills that empower students far beyond the classroom.
His message was clear:
As we close the chapter on this year’s Empowering Tomorrow’s MINDs conference, one thing is clear: the work doesn’t stop here. The insights, strategies, and inspiration shared throughout the day are just the beginning of a larger movement to redefine how students experience math.
For district leaders, educators, and changemakers, this is the time to take action—to bring these ideas into classrooms, to foster deep mathematical understanding, and to empower students to become the problem solvers of tomorrow.
We invite you to stay connected, continue the conversation, and join us next year as we push the boundaries of what’s possible in math education. Together, we are shaping the future—one student, one classroom, and one breakthrough at a time.
Stay tuned for more insights, updates, and details on next year’s conference. Until then, let’s keep empowering tomorrow’s minds!
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Jennifer Anderson is the Senior Manager of Content Marketing at MIND Education. Passionate about education, she focuses on fostering engagement and building meaningful connections. Through compelling narratives and innovative programs, Jennifer strives to empower educators and enrich students’ learning experiences.
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