In August, C-VILLE asked Albemarle County gifted education teacher John Hunter to address rumors that he would speak at TED2011, an annual conference that coordinates presentations by some of the world’s most innovative thinkers. ("TED" stands for technology, education and design.) Hunter, whose World Peace Game is the subject of Chris Farina’s documentary film World Peace…and Other Fourth Grade Achievements, could not confirm rumors at the time.
"I understand that when [TED] cultivates a speaking relationship with a presenter, they work with that person over time, and develop a really beautiful story," said Hunter at the time.
This week, TED unveiled its official lineup for TED2011, a five-day conference in Long Beach, California. Closing the conference on March 4th, a three-speaker session titled "Only If. If Only," featuring "wrongologist" Kathryn Schulz, renowned film critic Roger Ebert and the only Albemarle County teacher to entrust world peace to eight-year-olds. [Via Twitter.]
Hunter will be one of the final speakers at TED2011, which will also host speakers from General Stanley McChrystal and filmmaker Morgan Spurlock to Handspring Puppet Company and Julie Taymor, director of the embattled Broadway show Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. He confirmed the announcement today in an e-mail to C-VILLE.
"I’m on my 14th draft of the talk," wrote Hunter, who added that he expects to finish his presentation this weekend. "Chris [Farina] and I will be in the company of some pretty unique individuals."
Also a musician, Hunter expressed his excitement over a few of the other TED guests. "Just imagine," he wrote. "I’m going to be in the company of folks like musicians Bobby McFerrin and ‘Antony’ of Antony and the Jonhnsons, whom I first heard right here in town [on the stereo] at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar."
For a complete list of speakers, click here.