AASA Real Skills for Real Life Summit
“Bridging Brain Research and Classroom Practice”
Pamela Cantor, M.D., joined education leaders, researchers, and practitioners at the AASA Summit on Real Skills for Real Life in Washington, D.C., a multi-day gathering focused on the skills and environments that help young people thrive.
The summit, organized by Ellen Galinsky in partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association, explored how relationships, trust, belonging, and curiosity shape the biologic foundations of learning.
Dr. Cantor spoke about the science behind these “real skills,” describing how human connection activates the neural systems that power motivation, resilience, and growth.
Throughout the event, sessions from speakers including Rebecca Winthrop, Velma McBride Murry, and Brooke Stafford-Brizard illuminated the importance of youth voice, authentic engagement, and redesigning education systems around the science of learning and development.
