Theme: Embracing Uncertainty

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Lucy Sweeney Theatre at Shore Regional High School
132 NJ-36
West Long Branch, New Jersey, 07764
United States

Alice Simonson

Language Educator and Coordinator of Shore Regional International Program

With three decades of experience as an educator in French, Spanish, and ELL instruction, Alice Simonson (@srhsgoesglobal) is deeply passionate about enriching the learning experience and broadening the horizons of all students. Her journey in education has been defined by a commitment to excellence, a dedication to fostering global awareness, and an active involvement in her professional learning community. She wholeheartedly believes in the transformative power of language and culture learning. Driven by a desire to make the learning process more engaging, meaningful, and accessible, she is constantly trying to equip her students with the linguistic and cultural tools to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. As she continues her journey in education, she remains committed to inspiring a lifelong love of learning, fostering global citizenship, and empowering students to become effective communicators and cultural ambassadors in this ever-changing world.

Angela Marie Teeple

Author, Podcaster, and Founder of All In Athletes

Angela Teeple, a dedicated teacher and coach for over two decades, made a bold transition in 2022. Leaving her longstanding teaching career, she embraced her dream of inspiring others through various mediums: founding a non-profit, starting a podcast, writing a book, and stepping into the role of a motivational coach for students in her community. Her non-profit is a testament to her commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive environments in athletics, with a strong focus on mental fitness. Angela's podcast extends this mission, sharing stories of resilience and personal triumphs. Her book, an extension of her journey and insights, aims to inspire and empower a broader audience.

Dana Moutis

Leader of People at Fever Concerts

Dana's (@danagmoutis) journey towards effective leadership began early, attending "Leadership Training Camp" during middle and high school. This experience instilled in her a relentless curiosity to continuously enhance her leadership skills and empower those around her with functional leadership strategies. After graduating from American University in 2013, she spent five years working within the film industry before transitioning to the dynamic world of start-ups. Over the past four years, she has been managing the renowned "Candlelight" concert series at Fever across the Americas region. Additionally, Dana founded the Scalable Concepts team, dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into scalable realities. Dana was recently featured in the Secret Media Network's "The Women Behind Some of the Top Events in the World" as a celebration of women in the entertainment industry for International Women's Day.

Dr. Matthew Zakreski

Clinical Psychologist

Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD (@drmattzakreski) is a professional speaker and clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent (gifted, 2e, ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc.) people. He has spoken over 500 times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent people in all walks of life, from schools to college to the workplace. Dr. Matt specializes in taking knowledge of the brain, human behavior, and clinical psychology and making that accessible and practical for people to improve their lives. Dr. Matt received his Doctorate from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016. He is the co-founder of The Neurodiversity Collective.

Grace Sweeney

Actress, Student, and Community Leader

Grace Sweeney is a 16-year-old triple threat actress who has a passion for the arts and demonstrates leadership throughout all aspects of her life. Throughout her career as a young child and teen actress, she has learned what it takes to believe in herself and believe in others. When Grace was just 14 years old, she lost her beloved mother to a fierce battle with COVID-19. Grace was heartbroken and had to navigate through the rest of her 8th-grade year and the beginning of high school without her mother by her side. Nevertheless, Grace grew to be resilient and strong in honor of her mother's legacy. She went on to win the Betty McElmon Humanitarian Award and the Fine Arts Vocal Award at her 8th-grade graduation. Grace is thriving as a current sophomore at Shore Regional High School involved in several activities, sports, and clubs. She represents her sophomore class as a Student Council representative and an officer position corresponding to the Board of Education.

Marianna Ribeiro

High School Senior & Mental Health Advocate

Marianna Ribeiro is a 17-year-old senior from Shore Regional High School. In addition, she is an upcoming Brookdale Community College student planning to graduate in 2026 and pursue her passion of Music Technology. Born in Brazil, she was raised bi-culturally, integrating her Brazilian roots with the American culture she was raised with. Marianna grew up in Long Branch, where she had a passion for dance and music from a young age. Despite being raised in a positive environment, she began to develop mental health issues as young as 10 years old. Struggling with depression for the past 7 years, Marianna has finally decided to take the initiative to prioritize her mental health and heal. During this process, she has had a lot to consider and think about, including the difference between mental health in teens today compared to in the past, as well as the impact that media has had on her mental health throughout the years.

Natalie Toro

Medical Student

Natalie Toro is a third-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown, NY. She was born and raised in New Jersey by her grandparents. Being raised by an older generation exposed Natalie to health disparities and disadvantages that her family was experiencing. She tried to bridge the gap by translating at physician appointments and educating her family on important topics like medications and disease processes. She was inspired to be the first person in her family to enter the medical field to create real change for families similar to hers. During her gap years, she worked as a medical scribe in the emergency department. Natalie continues her work with underserved communities by serving on the executive board for the Latino Medical Student Association and the Student National Medical Association. She hopes to continue addressing health disparities and becoming a culturally competent and socially conscious emergency physician working on the front lines.

Samantha Conner

Student & Competitive Dancer

Samantha Conner is a 16-year-old sophomore at Shore who has an immense passion for the medical field. When not working on academics, she can be found on the dance floor as a competitive dancer. Despite facing the setback of tearing her ACL, she remains determined to come back stronger. As the co-president of the Medical Career Club, she enjoys inspiring others to pursue their dreams in healthcare. With a high-achieving mindset, Samantha strives for excellence in all areas of life.