VSTE Annual Conference

This is the one your staff have been waiting for! It is long overdue to bring some laughter and infectious positivity to those traditionally dull and uninformed keynotes and professional developments in schools. Teachers will recognize Devin as the hilarious comedian from Tik Tok, Youtube, and Facebook, including headlining the popular Bored Teachers National Comedy Tour, and administrators have come to know him as the “best speaker we’ve had in all my 30 years.” Devin delivers the non-stop laughs, and shows teachers how laughter can not only change their mindset, but also the mindset of those around them. He discusses building classroom community around humor, the science of healing and mental-wellness through laughter, and even gives a powerful lesson on conquering negativity. Over a decade of award winning, clean stand-up comedy experience along with 13 years as a highly effective teacher in Title I schools, combine to create a relatable, real, and ridiculously funny experience the faculty won’t forget. THIS is the speaker the teachers need and deserve, delivering the enduring keynote that all the admin and conferences rave about.

Esteban Gast is an award-winning Colombian-American comedian, writer, and creative force whose work blends humor with purpose. With a background that includes teaching, co-founding startups, and leading an eco-community, Esteban eventually found his sweet spot: comedy about things that matter.

Described by Variety as “irreverent but aspirational,” Esteban was named a Grist 50 Fixer, honored with an Anthem Award, and recognized as one of the Top 100 Latinos in the world taking action on climate change. He serves as the comedian-in-residence at Generation180, where he helped launch the Climate Comedy Cohort and Climate Cultura.

His wide-ranging work includes hosting the Spotify Original podcast Identity at Play, starring in VICELAND’s Jungletown, and producing digital content for SoulPancake and Hyundai. Esteban also co-wrote the upcoming feature film Thena and was a 2024 O’Neil Finalist for his comedy musical Teacher of the Year.

Whether he’s writing, performing standup, or crafting climate-conscious comedy, Esteban uses humor to spark meaningful conversations and inspire change.