Maya Strzempka

Athlete, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Parent, World traveler

I'm passionate about being the best educator I can be, surrounding myself with colleagues who challenge me to reflect and adopt effective teaching practices. I strive to share marginalized voices in the classroom. I'm committed to improving my health through weightlifting and sound nutrition, emphasizing real food and un-learning diet culture. My family is my greatest passion—my children are the light of my life, and my husband is the glue that holds us together.

English Language Arts, Rowing, Social Justice, Social Studies

I began my journey as an audience member, where I learned that we all have ideas worth sharing and that students need an outlet for their voices. My interest in TEDx grew once I became a speaker mentor. This led me to become a volunteer and talent organizer at my school's TEDx events. At the time, I didn't realize that attending this event would lead to years of engagement with TEDx.

Cooking without a recipe and keeping my sour dough starter alive!