AASA鈥檚 Real Skills for Real Life Summit to Feature Renowned Psychologist Angela Duckworth
August 19, 2025
萝莉网is excited to announce that the upcoming Real Skills for Real Life Summit will feature Dr. Angela Duckworth, renowned psychologist behind the bestselling book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and one of the most-watched TED talks of all time.
The summit will focus on "The New Basics"鈥� essential executive function skills that cutting-edge brain science shows are foundational for student success in academics and beyond. These skills include focused attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, reflection, and self-control.
Dr. Duckworth, the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow, will present on 鈥淗ow Change Happens,鈥� sharing findings from her latest research on school phone policies and insights from her forthcoming book. Her presentation will explore how changing our situation is key to changing ourselves.
The summit is designed for educational leaders, bringing together leading neuroscientists and educational strategists to translate brain science into immediately implementable district leadership strategies. Participants will learn how incorporating executive function skills can increase student achievement, build team capacity, and elevate leadership effectiveness.
Dr. Duckworth has advised the U.S. Department of Education, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs. She holds degrees from Harvard University, Oxford University, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed her PhD in Psychology.
AASA's Real Skills for Real Life Summit will take place in Washington, D.C., October 8-10, 2025 at the Marriott Washington Metro Center.
