Carol Reese

Brainstormer, Change Agent, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Explorer, Idea generator, World traveler

CAROL REESE is an educator in Eanes ISD and an enthusiastic supporter of the idea that TED talks are not just for adults. After years of inviting speakers with great ideas to her classroom, she and a dynamic volunteer group launched TEDxYouth@Austin, building an engaging experience for area youth. An encourager, connector, and catalyst, she is excited about working with high school and middle school students to create outstanding annual events for area youth!

Making sure that students have opportunities for creative thinking, exploration, choice, and engaged learning in safe classrooms!

Our TEDxYouth team asks that attendees "pay" for their TEDxYouth@Austin event ticket by carrying out 4 hours of community service. This benefits the community as well as the attendees!

As a connector, I am always trying to find experts on various topics to come and speak to my students about their work, their ideas, their experiences. After attending TEDxAustin events in 2010 and 2011, I mentioned to the organizer that I would like to pull together an official TEDxYouth event for those under the age of 18, because I believe that ideas worth sharing are incredibly valuable for younger people as well as adults. Together with high school student Louis Lafair, we pulled together a team, and the first TEDxYouth@Austin began in 2012-13 with "Limit:Less". I have served as a Lead Mentor for the youth and as an event co-organizer every year since then, and have attended TEDWomen in 2019. Following our Re:Build event in 2020, we hit the pandemic "Pause" button but are happy to be back for our next TEDx events in 2023!