Presented By:
Communities That Count: Why Student Math Confidence Is Everyone’s Business
October 12-13 | Orlando Regional Realtor Association | 5421 Diplomat Cir.Orlando, FL 32810
Math confidence isn’t built in classrooms alone. It’s built at the grocery store, on the job site, at the kitchen table, and in every place a community shows young people that math belongs to them. Yet most students only ever encounter math at a desk and too many walk away deciding they “just aren’t math people,” with real consequences for their futures, our workforce, and Florida’s economy.
Join us in Orlando for a working convening about how communities play an important role in building student math confidence and why it matters far beyond the classroom.
Schedule at a glance:
- Monday, October 12: Members and By Invitation Only Pre-conference
session begins at 12:30 - Monday, October 12: Networking Dinner, Kobe Steakhouse, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 13: Full day of sessions and partner conversations (8am-5pm)
- Wednesday, October 14: Optional Disney Imagination Campus/EPCOT experience 9am-12pm. (See below for more details.)
What you’ll do:
- Hear from industry leaders on why math is the fuel for innovation, business attraction and economic mobility.
- Sit with high school students for candid table conversations about what builds math confidence and what gets in the way.
- Learn directly from math teachers about what they need from their communities to create confident students and feel supported in the profession.
- Wrestle with a hard question: Who decides who’s “good at math”? A panel of teachers and administrators unpacks how beliefs, placement, and expectations shape math identity.
- Roll up your sleeves to consider how math ‘shows up’ in communities today, where math already lives in your community, and hear practical and fun solutions to strengthening math exposure outside of the classroom.
- Hear from local education foundations spotlighting math work happening across the network right now.
As member of the community, click the button below to attend.
If you are an education foundation employee or staff, click the button below to register
October 12: Pre-Conference
Pre-conference session and lunch is for members, local education foundation board members, limited guests by invitation only
12:00 PM Registration and Networking
Start the day by checking in and connecting with fellow attendees over a lunch. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be available to help you settle in and get ready for the afternoon ahead.
12:30 PM Lunch
Rick Shadyac, former President & CEO, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in conversation with Mark Brewer, President & CEO, Central Florida Foundation
Few leaders in American philanthropy understand the power of a story like Rick Shadyac. For 15 years, he led ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, guiding one of the most successful philanthropic enterprises in the nation’s history – nearly quadrupling annual giving and helping make St. Jude the most trusted brand in America. At the heart of that success: storytelling that turns compassion into trust, trust into generosity, and generosity into action.
Joining him is Mark Brewer, who has spent nearly three decades leading the Central Florida Foundation and is one of the nation’s most respected voices on philanthropy. Mark is also the Consortium’s newest board member. Together, they’ll explore how authentic stories build movements, why trust is philanthropy’s most valuable currency, and what it takes to inspire entire communities to act.
1:00 PM Fireside Chat | Stories That Move Communities
Rick Shadyac, former President & CEO, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in conversation with Mark Brewer, President & CEO, Central Florida Foundation
Few leaders in American philanthropy understand the power of a story like Rick Shadyac. For 15 years, he led ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, guiding one of the most successful philanthropic enterprises in the nation’s history – nearly quadrupling annual giving and helping make St. Jude the most trusted brand in America. At the heart of that success: storytelling that turns compassion into trust, trust into generosity, and generosity into action.
Joining him is Mark Brewer, who has spent nearly three decades leading the Central Florida Foundation and is one of the nation’s most respected voices on philanthropy. Mark is also the Consortium’s newest board member. Together, they’ll explore how authentic stories build movements, why trust is philanthropy’s most valuable currency, and what it takes to inspire entire communities to act.
Richard Shadyac Jr. is a business leader, attorney, and philanthropist who served as President & CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for nearly 16 years. Under his leadership, ALSAC grew into the largest healthcare charity in the world, with annual revenue increasing from the mid-$600M range to approximately $2.7 billion and 60 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth. A recognized thought leader on brand, strategy, and purpose-driven leadership, Rick has been featured in TIME, Forbes, and the Masters of Scale podcast, among others. He currently serves on the board of Sesame Workshop, along with a legacy of board leadership including St. Jude’s Board of Governors and the ALSAC Board of Directors. Rich is also an attorney with 27 years of litigation experience.
2:30 PM Networking Break -
Networking Break Sponsored by
2:45 PM Being a Bridge-Builder Leader
Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, Consortium Board Chair and President of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund
In a divided and fast-changing world, the leaders who make lasting impact are the ones who connect across sectors, communities, and perspectives. Rachael Tutwiler Fortune shares lessons on leading as a bridge builder: building coalitions, earning trust across differences, and turning shared purpose into collective results from her new book.
3:30 PM Exciting Consortium Updates
Updates for members, including a look at our new strategic plan.
6:00 PM Networking Dinner
Continue the conversation over dinner with Consortium members, local education foundation board members and invited guests. This invitation-only gathering is self-pay.
October 13: ConnectED Conference Schedule
Who should attend ConnectED?
Community and business partners, educators, local education foundations, and anyone invested in student success and regional economic vitality.
The schedule below is tentative and subject to change. Please check back for updates on sessions and speakers.
8:00 - 8:30 AM Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast
Start the day by checking in and connecting with fellow attendees over a continental breakfast. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be available to help you settle in and get ready for the day ahead.
8:30 AM Welcome
Amity Schuyler, president and CEO of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, will welcome attendees and frame the day ahead. She will highlight the purpose of ConnectED and set the stage for meaningful learning, connection and collaboration.
8:40 AM Opening Remarks
Dr. Zandra de Araujo will provide opening remarks.
Dr. Zandra de Araujo is Director of Mathematics at the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida, where she leads statewide initiatives to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning. Through her work, she partners with educators and leaders in all 67 Florida school districts to support high-quality mathematics instruction and improve outcomes for students.
A former tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Missouri and former Florida mathematics teacher, Dr. de Araujo has led numerous large-scale research and implementation initiatives and has served on the boards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, TODOS: Mathematics for All, and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. She is passionate about translating research into practical solutions that help teachers and students succeed.
9:00 AM The Mathematics Of Opportunity – Why Math Confidence Shapes Futures, Communities And Florida’s Economy
Math confidence can shape a student’s path, influence career opportunities and strengthen Florida’s economic future. Explore the research, examine the role of math in tomorrow’s workforce and hear from a panel of leaders about how math fuels innovation, mobility and economic development.
Panelist:
Corrie Melton, Florida Chamber of Commerce
Corrie Melton serves as Vice President of Talent Development for Future of Work at the Florida Chamber Foundation, where she leads Future of Work Florida and the Business Alliance for Early Learning. Her work advances the talent goals of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, from kindergarten readiness and grade-level reading and math to high school graduation, postsecondary attainment, and essential employability skills. A former elementary school teacher, Corrie brings experience spanning education, business, nonprofit leadership, and the chamber of commerce. She co-founded and led ASPIRE Capital Region, established the Tallahassee Talent Development Council, brought North Florida Worlds of Work to Tallahassee, and led employer-driven Talent Pipeline Management initiatives addressing regional workforce needs.
Paul Sohl, Florida High Tech Corridor
Paul Sohl is CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, an organization serving a 23-county region anchored by the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida. The Corridor works to connect high tech, innovation, and talent across the region to advance the communities it serves, and Sohl oversees its programs supporting research, marketing, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, including its Matching Grants Research Program, which has generated over $1 billion in verified downstream impacts since 1996.
Sohl joined The Corridor in 2020 after more than three decades in the U.S. Navy, where he held several major commands, including the Navy’s Operational Test & Evaluation Force and the Naval Aviation Fleet Readiness Center enterprise, overseeing thousands of personnel and multibillion-dollar budgets. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from MIT and a master’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Stanford University.
10:15 AM Who Decides Who’s Good At Math – How Beliefs, Placement And Expectations Shape Math Identity
Students’ beliefs about their math ability are shaped long before they enter the workforce. A panel of educators and administrators will explore how classroom experiences, course placement and adult expectations influence math identity, along with the policy and practice changes that can help more students see themselves as capable mathematicians.
Panelists:
Dr. Sarah Trench, University of South Florida
Sarah Trench, Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, where her research focuses on equipping teachers to meet the mathematics learning needs of all students. Her work has addressed how teachers use research to inform their practice as well as how they can use consultations to meet the needs of students with learning differences. She has been PI and Co-PI of major federal grants from NSF, US DOE, and Gates Foundation totaling more than $5.8 million. She co-authored the book Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully: Solutions for Reaching Struggling Learners and has numerous top-tier research publications. She regularly presents to national and international audiences about how teachers can facilitate improved opportunities for students to find success in mathematics. Her national presence has included leadership roles in the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) and American Education Research Association (AERA). Her excellence in teaching was recognized by the 2019 USF Undergraduate Teaching award and the 2026 Outstanding Community Engaged Teaching Award.
Dr. Sarah Bush, University of Central Florida
Dr. Sarah B. Bush is a Professor of K–12 STEM Education and the Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair at the University of Central Florida (UCF). At UCF, she is the Director of the Lockheed Martin/UCF Mathematics and Science Academy which provides scholarships for teachers to earn a master’s degree. She is also the program coordinator of the Mathematics Education PhD track at UCF. Her expertise focuses on mathematics teacher education, transdisciplinary STE(A)M education, and mathematics and STE(A)M teacher professional learning and leadership. She has authored 13 books and more than 120 journal articles. She is an author of The Math Pact book series, Simplifying STEM book series, and Step into STEAM. She is also an author of McGraw Hill Florida Math for K-12. She is a former member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Board of Directors. She currently serves as a member of the United States National Commission on Mathematics Instruction. She is a former middle school mathematics teacher and received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, specialized in Mathematics Education, from the University of Louisville.
Ashley Dietz
Florida Philanthropic Network
Beth Barfield
Superintendent, Glades County Schools
11:00 AM Network Break sponsored by iTeach
Networking break sponsored by:
11:30 AM The Student Perspective Table Talk: What Builds Confidence and What Gets in the Way.
Pull up a chair and hear it straight from the source. Over lunch, students share what actually builds their math confidence and what quietly chips away at it. No podium, no pressure just honest conversation with the people at the center of this work.
12:30 PM Creating Math Confidence–What Math Teachers Want You to Know About the Community’s Role in Creating Math Confident Students and Supporting and Retaining Math Teachers
Who better to tell us what builds math confidence than the people in the room where it happens? Hear directly from math teachers about the community’s role in developing math-confident students and what it really takes to support and keep great math teachers in the classroom. Bring your questions; this conversation goes both ways.
1:30 PM Networking Break sponsored by FPL
Networking Breaks Sponsored by
1:45 PM Where Math Lives – Designing a Community that Builds Math Confidence
Math isn’t confined to classrooms, it’s at the fair, in the park, around the kitchen table. In this session, explore how to design a community where math shows up everywhere and everyone plays a part in building math-confident students. Featuring Math Happens, and a few surprises from where math truly comes alive.
Panelists:
Dr. Christopher Danielson
Lauren Siegel
Executive Director, Math Happens
Margarita Azbel, Orlando Math Circle
2:45 PM How Does Math Show Up In Our Community Outside Of The Classroom
Explore where math shows up across your community, from local businesses and workforce pathways to everyday problem-solving.
3:30 PM Networking Break
See examples of the work happening across the state.
3:45 PM Local Education Foundation Showcase: Math Work Happening Now
See examples of the work happening across the state.
4:30 p.m. Reflections and Comments
October 14: Disney Imagination Campus Tour
9am-12pm
We are thrilled to announce a brand-new, exclusive opportunity with Disney Imagination Campus during this year’s Consortium Conference. Disney Imagination Campus offers educational experiences that help students connect classroom learning to real-world applications across Walt Disney World Resort.
On October 14, 2026, conference participants will have the opportunity to step behind the magic and learn more about math and science-focused student workshops, including Technology of the Parks and Physics of Disney Parks. Through this hands-on familiarization experience, local education foundation leaders will explore how Disney professionals use theme park attractions, systems and technology to bring science concepts to life.
Participants will gain a firsthand look at how these immersive field-trip experiences can support teachers, deepen student understanding and spark curiosity through practical applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
This optional experience is available exclusively to registered Consortium Conference attendees. Consortium foundation members are encouraged to invite district staff, partner organization representatives and board members to attend the conference and join them for the Disney experience.
The participation fee is $50 per person for Consortium foundation members and $80 per person for non-members. Non-members may contact their local education foundation for a coupon code to receive $20 off.
Conference registration is required to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus experience.
What’s Included:
- Complimentary 1 day Theme Park Admission to Epcot
- Disney Imagination Campus Overview – Disney Imagination Campus Team Members
- Concluding at 12 – time to enjoy the Magic of Disney at Epcot
- Complimentary Meal Certificates
Conference Hotel - $149 per night
Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando North
225 Shorecrest Drive, Altamonte Spring, FL 32701
This Embassy Suites has been fully remodeled. They offer a “cook-to-order” breakfast that is included with your stay. Choosing this hotel for our event ensures your networking opportunities continue beyond the agenda. Build connections that support meaningful work for students across Florida over dinner at the on-site restaurant or during their evening reception. The reception offers 2 drinks per registered guest along with a selection of snacks. Nightly from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
**Each is a 2-room King suite. This includes a pull-out couch. If other room needs are required, please call the reservation line directly at 1-800-445-8667. Group name is: Consortium of Florida Education or CFE.
Hotel Block Closes September 21st!
About the Location
The Orlando Regional Realtor Association is a new state-of-the-art building that has quickly become a premier meeting location in the Central Florida Area.
Guests will enjoy ample parking, catering from local culinary leaders and even a smoothy and iced coffee machine.