Featured Speakers

Lindy’s career began in a technology-equipped classroom, where she first blended teaching with technology. This sparked a journey into the world of supporting educators, encompassing roles in instructional technology, professional development, and curriculum design.

Over the last ten years, her consulting work has taken her to schools across the world. These experiences have given her a unique perspective on K-12 education and have been instrumental in her ultimate goal to support classroom teachers in delivering transformative learning experiences. This goal is captured in her book, “A Teacher’s Guide to Online Learning,” and in her daily work.

On a typical day, Lindy can be found assisting educational technology companies to meet K–12 educator needs and facilitating hands-on training for educators. Her work, often referred to as the “Lindy touch,” is highly regarded. This has led her to be named a 2024 EdTech Leader. She also holds several EdTech certifications, including Google for Education Certified Trainer, Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert and Master Trainer, and Minecraft Certified Trainer and Ambassador.

Based in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by mountains and her dogs, Lindy continues her mission to improve learning experiences for all.

Dr. Thuan Nguyen began serving as AVID’s CEO in 2022, following his tenure as President and Chief Operating Officer. Before his time at AVID, he spent 20 years working in public education, and he received national and international recognition for his work. He is responsible for doubling the number of AVID schools and spearheading the creation of more resources for educators and students than at any other time in AVID’s 44-year history.

In 2021, Thuan became the 58th person in San Diego State University’s history to be awarded an honorary doctorate for his work in education and for the free public services he created at AVID to help more than a million educators navigate the pandemic. The first person to receive such an honor from SDSU was John F. Kennedy.

Over the last two years, he has been spending his time meeting with teachers and school leaders to better understand their challenges and needs. In response, Thuan has been:

• Advocating and pressuring the U.S. Department of Education for a better response to FAFSA challenges and to provide more resources and support to AVID schools and students.

• Helping to address teacher turnover, preparation, and retention with the new AVID Certified Educator Program.

• Providing support for multilingual learners (the fastest growing demographics) through a new professional learning solution called AVID Emerge.

• Ensuring that AVID schools are on the forefront of, and benefit from, AI by launching AVID’s Instructional AI initiative in 2022. Today, more than a thousand classrooms and thousands of educators benefit from AVID Instructional AI tool, resources, and strategies.

More recently, he expanded AVID’s work by adding “career” to AVID’s mission statement and by launching services for AVID Alums.