About the Speakers
Juliana Urtubey
Monday Morning Speaker
Juliana Urtubey is the 2021 National Teacher of the Year who advocates for a “joyous and just” education for all students. A National Board Certified Teacher, she holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona. While teaching in Las Vegas, students gave her the nickname “Ms. Earth” for her efforts to beautify schools and unify the community through murals and gardens. Juliana has shared her “joyous and just” message with thousands of pre-service teachers, educators, and policymakers across the country – at the White House, Harvard and Stanford Universities – and has been featured on Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Univision and Telemundo.
Avanti Yamamoto
Monday Afternoon Speaker
Avanti Yamamoto is the 2025 Virginia Teacher of the Year and a National Board Certified mathematics educator serving as a Senior Teacher at Liberty Middle School in Hanover County, Virginia. She holds a B.S. in Biomathematics from VCU and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from JMU. Grounded in the belief that “ALL means ALL,” she champions inclusive, joyful, and rigorous learning. Building on her experiences as a high school math teacher, she now serves in administration. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to collaboration, belonging, storytelling, and advocacy—elevating student and teacher voices to ensure that every learning environment is engaging, enriching, and encouraging.
Rodney Robinson
Tuesday Morning Speaker
Rodney Robinson is a veteran educator with over 20 years of experience in Richmond Public Schools. A graduate of King William High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia State University and a master’s in educational administration from VCU. He taught middle and high school social studies, including five years at the Richmond Juvenile Jail. Rodney is a nationally recognized educator, earning honors such as the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence and 2019 National Teacher of the Year. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Teacher and Leader Pathways. His passion is helping underprivileged and underrepresented populations in America.
Sarah Beach
Tuesday Afternoon Speaker
Sarah Beach, Ph.D., is Director of Research at the Education Rights Institute (ERI). Her perspective is informed by experience as an elementary, secondary, and university educator and scholar. Her research focuses on K–12 assessment and accountability, education policy for equitable student success, and systems thinking for systemic change. Dr. Beach’s scholarship appears in ERI reports, academic journals, handbooks, and edited volumes. She regularly presents at national and international conferences, including AERA, NCME, and the International Conference on Justice and Education, and currently co-chairs the NCME Presidential Task Force on Educational Measurement and Civil Rights.