District teachers to speak in new season of TEDx McMinnville

Teachers Matt Brisbin, McMinnville High School, and Liz Knapp, Patton Middle School, will be part of the 2020 lineup of TEDx speakers at a half-day event scheduled for Jan. 25, 2020, at Linfield College’s Ice Auditorium.

Brisbin’s “Start a Learning Revolution. Throw Out the Gradebook” will highlight his decision to fundamentally change the way he uses grades in his classroom.

Knapp’s “Restorative Practices in Schools Have the Power to Transform Communities” will feature her personal experiences in trauma and how it led her to teaching, as well as lessons learned, ideas and practices to help students overcome their pasts.

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events designed to bring people together in a TED-like experience based on the premise of “Ideas Worth Spreading.” TED has showcased some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers for 30 years. Many of these talks are shared, for free, as videos. TEDx is meant to spark deep discussion and connection on a local level, with locally based speakers.

In its second year, TEDx McMinnville is meant to focus on community connections and highlight big ideas that are relevant, accessible and meaningful to those in McMinnville and Yamhill County.