Featured Speakers and Presentations

Kim is a kindergarten teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary in the Northshore School District. Kim is a dynamic educator committed to inclusive schools and creating a culture of belonging for each and every student she works with in her classroom and beyond. Kim’s love of learning and desire to teach stems from her mother, who ran a small in-home daycare for birth to 5-year-olds. For 33 years her mom modeled the importance of connection, building relationships and the power of a good read aloud.

Kim has been a kindergarten teacher for her entire career. Her passion for this work has been recognized for her leadership and instructional excellence. Kim has been recognized as “Ahead of the Class” by the Renton Chamber of Commerce, “Innovative Teacher of the Year” by the Northshore School Foundation and by the Seattle Seahawks as a “Hero in the Classroom.” She has received numerous grants for innovation, leadership and community outreach. Kim is a lead presenter and teacher in the OSPI demonstration site work to improve inclusionary practices implementation statewide.

Kim has worked for the last four years as a foundational teacher in the opening of the fully inclusive Ruby Bridges Elementary School. Kim exemplifies seeing the brilliance of each student and creates conditions for their radical dreaming. She has created a community of learning where students are valued for their unique talents and strengths, where each student can thrive with the needed supports and where she relentlessly pursues justice.

Dismantling the barriers of ableism and cultivating spaces of joy for students is Kim’s heart work She teaches with a passion and love that makes every person who enters her classroom wish to be a part of it. She is a magical force for good and justice for our youngest learners.

My name is Taanvi Arekapudi, I am a 16-year-old Irish-born with Indian parents, living in Washington, and an international bestselling author of “Uplift Teens Today” (the first teen-to-teen mental health book), creator of the Emotion Cards Deck, and founder of the award-winning, revolutionary 24/7 platform, Nexus: Mental Health Hub for Schools. Nexus has impacted over 800K individuals, with a goal to reach over 80 million students nationwide. I am passionate about creating resources to support my peers on their mental health journeys through my nonprofit organization, Uplift Teens Today. I collaborate with the Washington Health Care Authority, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and serve as a board member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Additionally, I am part of Harvard’s Student Advisory Council, Boston’s Wellness Lab, and the Macy Social Impact Team. My work has been featured in The Seattle Times, FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN, and other major outlets. My dedication to mental health advocacy has earned me prestigious honors, including the C.P. and Dorothy Johnson Humanitarian Award, the Civil Champion Award, the NAMI National 2024 Youth Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and more. Learn more: www.taanvi.us.

Senator Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, has been a staunch ally for Washington’s children, ensuring investments in early learning, stability in K-12 funding, and encouraging affordable access to higher education. She has been a friend to Washington State PTA since arriving in the State Senate in 2017, working closely with the organization on legislation and making herself available throughout the year to meet with members, advocates, and leadership. She has traveled across the state meeting with school district leaders, teachers, parents, and community members, seeking advice on how to improve district policies to benefit students. In the last few sessions, she has been the lone voice on the gaps in special education and student transportation. In the 2025 legislative session, she introduced legislation on student transportation and special education funding, and co-sponsored legislation on Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs, simple majority for bonds, and much more.

The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives. Be SMART emphasizes that it’s an adult responsibility to keep kids from accessing guns, and that every adult can play a role in keeping kids and communities safer. This non-partisan, non-political approach engages both gun owners and non-gun owners in working together to make our communities safer. And this work, like PTA, is volunteer driven. In Washington, Be SMART volunteers have spent countless hours tabling at community events, providing free information sessions to PTAs and other groups. In addition, Be SMART has exhibited at WSPTA Convention and Legislative Assembly to help convey these lifesaving messages, normalize conversations around gun storage, and provide PTA leaders with the tools they need to share this message with others in their community.

Mikki Wilson is a brand coach and business consultant who is passionate about education, connection, and entrepreneurship. With extensive experience as a solo CMO for small businesses, she empowers entrepreneurs and CEOs to amplify their value and visibility through innovative strategies.  Through her innovative strategies and unwavering commitment, Mikki continues to empower individuals and communities, creating meaningful impact at the intersection of education and business.

Mikki played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Massachusetts PTA Reflections program, expanding participation, forging strong community partnerships, and transforming the Reflections Awards into an immersive experience that showcases student artists in art museums statewide. Her dedication to the program has also resulted in increased PTA membership. She has also served as a Board Member for National PTA

Beyond her PTA involvement, Mikki is a dedicated volunteer, particularly in the fields of arts education, youth development, and entrepreneurship. With nearly two decades of marketing strategy experience, she has successfully driven growth and productivity for small businesses in various industries. Her passion for education, connection, and entrepreneurship makes her an invaluable advocate and collaborator.

Lili Nguyen is Head of Trust and Safety, Risk and Response Operations at TikTok U.S. Data Security. Lili oversees a range of functions including child safety, emergency response, legal and privacy operations, intellectual property enforcement, and platform integrity efforts including covert influence operations. Before joining TikTok, Lili served as a criminal prosecutor in San Francisco for over a decade specializing in sex crimes, child exploitation, and other violent offenses. Lili currently represents TikTok on the board of the Tech Coalition, a global alliance dedicated to protecting children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. Lili brings with her a long-standing focus on public safety, with a deep expertise in child safety, crisis response, online harm prevention, and as a mom herself, a personal commitment to create safer digital spaces for young people.