“As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a child is humanized or humiliated.” – Haim Ginott

The keynote’s message is always simple, the teacher is the most important variable in the classroom. Your teachers will be recognized for all they do to not only educate their students but to fill the life -gaps many of their students’ face. They will be challenged to see the potential in every child and to embrace their families in a collaborative effort to make that potential a reality. 

Keynote primary themes include:

• Being intentional about how we make our students feel.
• Being intentional about creating a Caring Classroom Community environment.
• Not only teaching but applying Social Emotional Learning Skills to daily classroom life.
• Understanding Transformative Classroom Management. Implementing 3-Dimensional Discipline. Preventative, Supportive, and Corrective.

My approach is to offer Theory, Best Practices, and Specific Teacher Behaviors to engage your teachers’ brains and compelling real-life stories to touch their hearts. No matter how large the audience I always include a couple of interactive activities to get them on their feet and laughing. The ultimate respect I have for teachers and the work they do is easily communicated – it’s real. I promise your teachers will leave energized and remembering why they wanted to be a teacher. 

Keynotes are typically 60 to 75 minutes.

I am happy to collaborate with you to more precisely focus my message for your teachers, your district and your mission.

Special Keynote Package – Don’t let it be a one-and-done!

I offer a Keynote format that includes one of my books, a motivational bookmark, and a small but powerful mirror. When your teachers leave holding their copy of the book they are positioned to implement new strategies. The bookmark is a reminder of the message you deem most important. They will be asked to fix that little mirror to the inside cover of their book and encouraged to begin each day by looking themselves in the eye and asking, “How will I make my students feel today?”

I am always excited to significantly reduce my standard speaker’s fee so that you can choose the Keynote Book Option.

“We are using your book across the district in our monthly team meeting dedicated to Trauma Informed Practices. Your keynote got us started.” – DR. Cheryl Vacca, Assistant Superintendent, Midlothian, District 143