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Community First Credit Union Presents EDTalks, Featuring Stanford\u2019s Isabelle Hau, on the Future of Education, AI, and Workforce Readiness<\/p>\n
Technology is changing how students learn and how people work. This fall, education and business leaders from across Northeast Florida will gather to chart a path towards a future where students are equipped to thrive in the rapidly evolving workforce.<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), in partnership with presenting sponsor Community First Credit Union, will host its fifth biennial EDTalks on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marriott Jacksonville Downtown. The event brings together hundreds of educators, business leaders, and advocates to spark action around the most pressing issues in public education today.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s students are navigating a world where technology is shaping how they learn and communicate, and also how they prepare for the careers of tomorrow,\u201d said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. \u201cEDTalks offers a pivotal opportunity for our community to unite, ensuring that we are equipping them with the skills and mindset they need to thrive in an increasingly digital and dynamic future.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s program features keynote speaker Isabelle C. Hau, executive director of Stanford University\u2019s Accelerator for Learning. A nationally recognized leader at the intersection of education and artificial intelligence, Hau will share groundbreaking insights into how schools and communities can adapt\u00a0in\u00a0a rapidly evolving technological landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are thrilled to present this insightful and impactful speaker on a topic many leaders are working to understand,\u201d said Sam Inman, president and CEO of Community First and JPEF Board Member. \u201cThis JPEF EDTalks provides an unprecedented opportunity to connect with a leader in artificial technology and how to harness its great power and improve how we prepare our workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n Chaired by community leaders Buck Williams and Mary Goldsmith, EDTalks 2025 will also shine a spotlight on local educators, students, and advocates who are already innovating in the classroom and beyond. Their stories will anchor the conversation in the realities of teaching and learning in Duval County in this new era.<\/p>\n Dr. Barbara Darby will also be honored as the Nina Waters Quality Education for All Champion. A trailblazing leader and lifelong advocate for public education, Dr. Darby\u2019s legacy in Jacksonville is extraordinary. As the former President of Florida State College at the North Campus and Nassau Center, she led for nearly two decades with vision and impact\u2014expanding access to workforce-aligned degree programs and creating life-changing opportunities for students across our region.<\/p>\n Since its inception, EDTalks\u00a0has\u00a0catalyzed collaboration between education and business sectors, fueling investment in student achievement, teacher leadership, and educational opportunity. This year promises to continue that legacy, driving forward solutions to ensure Jacksonville\u2019s students are equipped for our community\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Tickets and sponsorships are now available at\u00a0jaxpef.org\/edtalks<\/a>.<\/p>\n About JPEF<\/p>\n Since 2009, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund has been dedicated to bridging gaps in public education by investing in strong school leaders and educators. Through bold ideas, strategic resources, and trusted relationships we help build the bridges that connect students to opportunity, educators to support, and our community to lasting change.\u00a0For more information:\u00a0www.jaxpef.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Community First Credit Union of Florida<\/p>\n