Steven Leinwandis a principal research analyst at AIR, the American Institutes for Research in Arlington, VA, and has over 40 years of leadership positions in mathematics education. He currently serves as mathematics expert on a wide range of AIR projects that focus on high quality mathematics instruction, turning around underperforming schools, improving adult education, evaluating programs, developing assessments and providing technical assistance for school improvement. Leinwand co-authored "What the United States Can Learn from Singapores World-Class Mathematics System (and what Singapore can learn from the United States"). Leinwand has spoken and written about effectively implementing the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics, differentiated learning and "What Every School Leader Needs to Know about Making Math Work for All Students." In addition, Leinwand has provided school and district-level support and technical assistance for the General Electric Foundation's Ensuring Futures in Education project and the Microsoft Math Partnership, As part of AIR's assessment program, Leinwand has overseen the development and quality review of multiple-choice and constructed response items for AIR's contracts with Ohio, Hawaii, Delaware, Minnesota, South Carolina and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Before joining AIR in 2002, Leinwand spent 22 years as Mathematics Consultant with the Connecticut Department of Education where he was responsible for the development and oversight of a broad statewide program of activities in K-12 mathematics education including the provision of technical assistance and professional development, the evaluation of Title 1 and K-12 mathematics programs, the assessment of student achievement and teacher competency, and the coordination of statewide mathematics programs and activities. Steve has also served on the NCTM Board of Directors and has been President of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. Steve is an author of several mathematics textbooks and has written numerous articles.

His books, Sensible Mathematics: A Guide for School Leaders in the Era of Common Core State Standardsand Accessible Mathematics: 10 Instructional Shifts That Raise Student Achievementwere published by Heinemann in 2012 and 2009 respectively. His most recent Invigorating High School Mathematics: Practical Guidance for Long-Overdue Transformation, co-authored with Eric Milou, was published in 2021. In addition, Leinwand was the awardee of the 2015 National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Glenn Gilbert/Ross Taylor National Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to mathematics education and has been awarded the 2021 NCTM Lifetime Achievement Award.Caroline Weltyis a junior at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, NC. She is the president of her school's A Cappella Club, a member of her church's Worship Team, the chair of her middle school's Young Alumni Council, and a member of her school's National and Musical Honors Societies. Caroline is also a regular solo performer at her school's Evenings of Entertainment and a member of her school's highest-level auditioned choir. She also has placed in the top five at several Dogwood Speech and Debate League tournaments in Public Forum Debate, and she has been top speaker in their varsity division three times. She and her debate partner placed second at the North Carolina State Championship of Speech and Debate in the JV division in 2023.

Caroline has also spent the last 4 years tutoring students from 4th to 7th grades in math and English. In middle school, Caroline organized an Upstander's Summit, bringing together upstanders from the local community to educate and empower students at her own school through presentations and active service. Caroline has also completed Gwynn Valley Camp's 3-week long Young Leaders Program.