Ambrose is an educator and change agent who has worked as a classroom teacher, coach, dean, principal, central office administrator, and a Special Education due process hearing officer. Ambrose began his career as a teacher in a Chicago Public School behavior disorders classroom. He retired as an Assistant Director from the Exceptional Children Have Opportunities (ECHO) Joint Agreement in 2010. He currently operates his consultation and professional development service, Behave Yourself L.L.P. His organization supports school districts in the areas of Social Emotional Learning Skills instruction, school culture and classroom communities, personal and social responsibility, classroom management, and individual student behavior plans. As a consultant, he collaborates on a national level with like-minded educators to position students to learn to control themselves rather than needing to be controlled.
His books, The Difference: Between Teaching Social Emotional Learning Skills and Kids Using Them, Palmetto Publishing, 2023, Behave Yourself: Helping Students Plan to Do Better, Solution Tree Press, 2009, Adventure Education for the Classroom Community, Solution Tree Press, 2000-2007, and Discipline and the Classroom Community, Stylex Publishing, 1999, is evidence of his long-standing belief in the power of Caring Classroom Community Cultures.
He has been delivering up-lifting Keynote Addresses, practical hands-on workshops, and on-site collaborative consultation for over 40 years. Ambrose likes to say – this is my life; this is what I did and if it didn’t work, I wouldn’t be telling you about it.
Discover One-of-a-Kind Events That Leave a Lasting Impression
Explore exceptional consulting services tailored to meet your district’s unique educational needs. Benefit from 40 plus years of expertise and innovative strategies to drive growth for educators and students.
Dr. Joyce Carmine
“Research-based best practice in professional development emphasizes the importance of and need for authentic and sustainable application. Ambrose Panico takes the critical topic of social-emotional learning from the stage to the classroom. His keynote presentation addresses the pillars of creating a positive classroom culture, teacher by teacher, student by student. But it does not stop there. His hands-on practical, real-world application in the classroom, working alongside of teachers and students, engaging, modeling, and coaching, puts the icing on the cake. He continues to excite school leaders and staff by providing onsite PD through PLC collaborative discussions relating to real-time student needs and strategies that can be implemented here and now.
His knowledge and wisdom on this topic come from his authentic experience. His application in the classroom is authentic. The respect that he offers staff and students is authentic. And the tools for building and supporting a strong and positive school culture are authentic and sustained! “
Dr. Joyce Carmine, Interim Superintendent, Park Forest – Chicago Hieghts, District 163
★ ★ ★ ★ ★