Steven Leinwand is a principal research analyst at AIR, the American Institutes for Research in Arlington, Virginia, and has more than 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, evaluating programs, developing assessments and providing technical assistance for school improvement. Leinwand co-authored "What the United States Can Learn from Singapore's World-Class Mathematics System (and what Singapore can learn from the United States." He 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.

Before joining AIR in 2002, and after teaching high school math in Middletown, Connecticut, for eight years, 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. Steve has also served on the NCTM Board of Directors, has been President of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, and chaired the Writing Team for NCTM’s Principles to Actions.

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 Standards and Accessible Mathematics: 10 Instructional Shifts That Raise Student Achievement were published 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 Welty is a senior at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina.. 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 also tutors math and English for students from Grade 4 to Grade 7, as she has been for the past four years. 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 Young Leaders Program.