Keynote Speakers

Anne Marie Anderson
Keynote Speaker

Anne Marie Anderson will give the opening keynote during the Wednesday general session. The three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, keynote speaker and author walked through ESPN’s doors fresh out of college, embarking on a career that led her into the boardrooms and locker rooms of some of the most successful franchises in sport. Utilizing the methods observed through behind-closed-doors coverage of high-performing coaches, athletes and executives, Anderson applied their penchant for taking bold, sometimes surprising, risks to her own personal and professional life.

The knowledge and experience she has gained through making one surprising career move after another led her to becoming one of the most experienced female play-by-play announcers in the country. In “Cultivating Audacity,” Anne Marie shares the system she developed to find the courage to confront her hesitation and break down barriers that stood between her and the life she wanted.

Anne Marie is known for delivering keynotes that are alternately funny and touching. She connects with the audience through the power of storytelling. Learn more about Anderson by watching her convention announcement video.

Mickey Smith Jr.
Keynote Speaker

Educator.

Encourager.

Those are just two of the words that describe Mickey Smith Jr., who will bring a saxophone on the Wisconsin State Education Convention stage to share his unique combination of message and music.

In the course of his career, the eight-time Teacher of the Year and GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient has grown multiple band programs in Louisiana, Texas and Florida by over 500%, encompassing over half of their school populations.

The Southwest Louisiana native believes in promoting education and the educators across the globe who make it possible. He has extensive experience teaching in Title I, urban, suburban, rural, public and private schools. Throughout the years, Mickey’s classrooms have been filled with students from a variety of backgrounds. There are some who have experienced trauma and adverse circumstances, but they have all been provided with the opportunity to find greater meaning and purpose through music. Mickey’s classroom experience encourages students to do more than make music, but also to “discover their personal sound.”

Mickey believes that modern-day teaching is a relationship-based approach, and that more than ever teaching cannot simply be about the subject matter, but also about showing students that they matter. His mission is to engage, educate and empower every learner to excellence through music, so that every child feels loved, valued and wanted.

The teacher, all-state conductor and clinician has taken his systems of joy for teaching to hundreds of educational conferences, school district meetings and leadership development stages across North America sharing his “Keep on Going” approach.

West Palm Beach is now home to Mickey, Eugenia and their two children, William and Mikayla. Learn more about Mickey Smith Jr. by visiting mickeysmithjr.com and watching his convention announcement video.