Speakers
First General Session, Friday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m.
Speaker: Jose Hernandez
Jose Hernández grew up working “the California circuit” as one of four children in a migrant farming family. One day, while working in the fields and listening to a transistor radio, Hernández learned that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps and he was inspired to fly in space. After high school, he attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, earning an electrical engineering degree and receiving a full scholarship to attend graduate school at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He worked at the Lawrence Livermore Lab, and in 2001 joined the Johnson Space Center. In 2004, he was accepted into the 19th astronaut class, and in 2009, he was a mission specialist on the STS-128 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Among his many ventures, in 2005 he founded the José M. Hernández Reaching for the Stars Foundation and continues his work in the field of engineering and space as the CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, LLC.
Performance by: Tomball ISD
Award presentation: Outstanding School Board
TSPRA Key Communicator
Second General Session, Saturday, Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: John Maxwell
John Maxwell is a New York Times best-selling author, speaker, coach, and leader who has sold more than 34 million books in 50 languages. He is the founder of Maxwell Leadership® — a leadership development organization. Having been recognized as an influential leader in the areas of business and leadership, Maxwell continues to influence individuals and organizations worldwide — from Fortune 500 CEOs and national leaders to entrepreneurs and the leaders of tomorrow.
Performance by: Canutillo ISD
Award presentation: Superintendent of the Year
Third General Session, Sunday, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Nancy Giordano
Nancy Giordano is an Austin-based strategic futurist and best-selling author with a drive to help enterprise organizations and visionary leaders transform to meet the escalating expectations ahead. With a career at three of the top global advertising agencies and as founder of her own strategic inspiration company, Play Big, Inc., Giordano has a history of advising and learning with some of the biggest companies in the world, including Nestle, The Coca-Cola Company, and Sprint. Her first book, Leadering: The Way Visionary Leaders Play Bigger, defines and makes visible the dynamic, inclusive, and audacious mindset leaders must cultivate to stay relevant and help build a better next.