Meet the 2026 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit Keynote Speaker
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We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Jorge Valenzuela will take the stage as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit, happening June 9, 2026, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Dr. Valenzuela is a respected education and performance coach, author, and speaker with Lifelong Learning Defined. He began his career in both information technology and education and is known for his rare ability to blend science with soul, drawing from his backgrounds in computer science, classroom teaching, family life, and instructional leadership. His work embodies this year’s Summit theme, Unlocking Possibility, by centering innovation in purpose, empathy, and impact.
A bridge between the technical and the human
Dr. Valenzuela’s professional journey spans computer science, classroom instruction, and districtwide leadership. At Richmond City Public Schools in Virginia, he worked within the Career and Technical Education department, supervising the STEM career pathways program. During this time, he also supported districtwide instructional innovation efforts that contributed to all 50 schools achieving full state accreditation by 2010. This systems-level success continues to shape his leadership approach today.
He earned his PhD from Old Dominion University, where his doctoral research focused on integrating aspects of computer science into K–12 instruction, grounding his work in both rigor and real-world relevance.
Today, Dr. Valenzuela is widely celebrated for high-impact frameworks that empower educators and leaders nationwide, including, Instructional Innovation+, PBL+ with AI Literacy, and The Blueprint for Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
As a faculty member with Corwin, Solution Tree, and ASCD, Dr. Valenzuela supports educators and schools nationwide in implementing high-impact teaching strategies. He is also a published researcher and the host of the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast, where he and his guests share actionable insights to help educators teach effectively and lead with purpose.
Unlocking Possibility through innovation, leadership, and heart
This June, Dr. Valenzuela will invite Summit participants to step into the light of possibility by exploring how innovation, emotional intelligence, and purposeful leadership can brighten the future of STEM learning across Ohio. We are honored to welcome him as our 2026 keynote and look forward to an inspiring day of learning, connection, and momentum.
Tickets are on sale now. Join us on June 9, 2026.
The post Meet the 2026 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit Keynote Speaker appeared first on Ohio STEM Learning Network.
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