On August 29, 2018, I am a motivational speaker for the Foothills School District back to school event. The event is at the Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks, Alberta.
Over 1,000 educators, school support staff will be attending. School support staff include school bus drivers, teaching assistants, school lunch staff, school counselors, administrators, janitors, facility managers and more. This is one of a very few events where the school district brings together all staff.
This is my second time speaking for the foothills school district; I presented for the school support staff about three years ago, at a similar event. I found the audience very warm, and they love to laugh.
Going back to school after a long summer break is both challenging and exciting. Many look forward to the challenges of a new year ahead, new students, updated curriculum, new teachers and more.
The Foothills School District welcomes a new acting superintendent, Pam Rannelli. Pam has been with the school district for five years, so people are already comfortable with her leadership.
We plan to kick the school year off with a bang, focusing on celebrating the impact teachers and support staff have on students lives. My message reminds education staff how they impact the quality of life for our future generation. I will be the opening funny motivational speaker and present the speech; This Would be Funny if it Wasn't Happening to Me! How to Navigate the School Year with Humor, Enthusiasm, and Vigor.
We will talk about stress and change and how to stay resilient. Education and classroom management can be challenging today because most students are digital natives and are exposed to the internet and digital interaction most of their lives. This can drastically impact how they learn and communicate. For instance, attention spans now are much lower than years ago ( 9 seconds or less!) thus student engagement is challenging.
I will also delve into how parenting styles have evolved and how many parents are more likely to solve their children's problems and be their advocate. This also impacts educators and support staff who deal with helicopter parents all the time.
I am excited to kick off the school year for the foothills school district. Anyone in education makes a big impact in a students life. They work hard and are often underappreciated for the work they do.
