Representative James Talarico

Welcome Keynote Speaker

Representative James Talarico is a former public school teacher first elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. Born in Round Rock, Rep. Talarico attended Wells Branch Elementary School and graduated from McNeil High School before earning degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. After college, he taught middle school on the Westside of San Antonio. He currently sits on the Public Education Committee, the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, and the Calendars Committee.

Commissioner Mike Morth

Fireside Chat Keynote Speaker

Mike Morath took office as Commissioner of Education in January 2016 and was unanimously confirmed by the Texas Senate (85th Legislature) in March 2017. As Commissioner, he heads the Texas Education Agency, which oversees pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than 5.5 million students enrolled in both traditional independent school districts and public charter schools.

Bridget Worley

Fireside Chat Keynote Speaker

Bridget Worley is the Chief of State Impact for the Commit Partnership. Prior to her current role, she served as Executive Director of the Texas Impact Network. She started her career in education as a second- and third-grade teacher at Clinton Elementary School in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, and then spent time working in governmental relations at Van Scoyoc Associates in her hometown of Washington, DC.