MREA is thrilled to announce the keynote speaker for the 2025 Greater Education Summit. The Summit will take place November 14-16 at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd. The MREA Board and Leadership team is thrilled to welcome Joe Beckman as our opening and closing keynote speaker. Joe believes that in a world full of noise, notifications, and nonstop busy, the most radical thing we can do is simply look up.
As co-founder of TILL360, Joe Beckman is one of the top educational speakers in the country — and whether he’s speaking to students, teachers, educational leaders, or parents, his message is the same: human connection changes lives.
OPENING KEYNOTE – JUST LOOK UP
In a world where students (and adults) will walk into walls because they’re glued to their screens, Joe offers a simple, powerful solution: Just. Look. Up.
Armed with humor, heart, and 3 life-saving phrases, Joe helps audiences rediscover the power of face-to-face connection. You’ll laugh out loud, fight back a few tears, and leave with practical ways to build trust and belonging—in classrooms, homes, and everyday life.
Get ready to run the experiment. Goggles not required.
Learning Objectives:
- Disrupt the myth that digital connection can replace human connection—and explore what we’re really hungry for beneath the scroll.
- Reclaim small moments (a smile, a name remembered, a high-five) as powerful tools of transformation in students’ lives.
- Experiment with vulnerability as a leadership superpower—proving that connection isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have in today’s classrooms.
CLOSING KEYNOTE – JUST LOOK BACK
In “Just Look Back: Building your Road in Education,” nationally recognized motivational speaker, author, and TILL360 co-founder, Joe Beckman guides educators to explore the profound impact of their daily actions and relationships in shaping a lasting legacy. Drawing on scientifi c insights into connection and well-being, this keynote illuminates the incredible infl uence educators already wield, off ers practical “Caveman Wisdoms” for immediate success, and inspires a collective commitment to building enduring and supportive educational paths for all. Participants will leave reignited with purpose, recognizing their unique role in fostering connections, shaping lives, and leaving an indelible mark.
Learning Objectives:
- Reignite a sense of purpose by refl ecting on the educator’s unique role in shaping lives, fostering connection, and leaving a lasting legacy.
- Recognize the long-term impact of everyday moments and interactions on student growth, staff culture, and personal legacy.
- Apply practical, science-backed strategies (“Caveman Wisdoms”) to build stronger relationships and boost personal and professional well-being.
Bookending the Summit with Joe will allow for us to tie the incredible principals in throughout the entire conference.
SUMMIT REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2025 Greater Education Summit will launch very soon, with early bird pricing exclusively for members in August. Watch your email for more information!