I recently had the honor of being the keynote speaker at an incredible event hosted by DC Everest School District in Wisconsin, and I couldn’t wait to share the highlights with you all.

First and foremost, let me express my immense gratitude for the opportunity to speak to fellow educators. It’s not just a passion of mine; it’s my favorite thing to do. The experience at DC Everest was nothing short of fantastic. From the moment I stepped into the venue, I knew it was going to be a memorable day. The educators and leaders at DC Everest made it truly special, and I must mention the unexpected surprise of being gifted a walk-up song – AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Yes, you read that right! It’s a long story, but suffice it to say, we embraced it wholeheartedly and set the tone for an amazing day of learning and growth.

I must extend a huge shout-out to Brady Messenberg, Director of Technology, and his entire team for orchestrating such a remarkable conference. Brady’s dedication and commitment to creating an impactful event that resonated with so many individuals is commendable. The multitude and diversity of sessions offered – over 111 in total – truly showcased the innovative spirit of DC Everest School District. Personally, I found myself reevaluating my own practices after attending Brady’s session on cybersecurity. It’s clear that DC Everest is paving the way for excellence in education, and I was proud to be a part of it.

Brady Mesenberg & Kelly Croy at DC Everest Schools

I also want to express my gratitude to the individuals who made the event even more memorable. From Felecity Treptow to Rita Mortenson, Melissa Piette, Tammy Trzebiatowski, Wes Molyneux, Casey Nye, Tracey Ravey, Jeff Lindell, and many more – your presence and enthusiasm made the day truly special. Special thanks are also due to Jack for his hard work on the video production and Joey for ensuring impeccable sound quality. I made sure Jack received one of my brand new Willy-Wonka-Styled Golden Tickets that ensures him copies of my book, mention in my next book, a spot on my podcast and more! I always wanted to offer a golden ticket, and hid a second in one of the books that day. Fun! DC Everest, you are truly amazing, and I can’t thank you enough for the warm welcome and the opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary.

But the journey doesn’t end there. As much as I cherished my time at DC Everest, I’m eager for more opportunities to connect with educators and leaders across different districts and events. If you’re reading this and thinking about organizing an educational event or seeking a keynote speaker, look no further! I would be honored to bring my insights, passion, and joy for education to your audience. Let’s make an impact together.

Now, as we wrap up, I want to take a moment to address something important. Education is not just a job; it’s a lifestyle. It’s about making a difference, day in and day out. I understand the pressures and challenges that come with it, I was a classroom teacher for 27 years: I know: the constant striving for more, the occasional self-doubt, the feeling of never doing enough. But let me remind you, you are incredible. Your dedication, your commitment to growth, your willingness to make a difference – it’s what sets you apart. So, be kind to yourself, celebrate your wins, and remember, your best days in education are yet to come. Educators are my favorite species.

Thank you all for your unwavering dedication to education. Let’s continue to uplift, inspire, and make a difference, one day at a time.

And for those interested, here are the presentations I delivered at the Wisconsin event:

1. Be Careful What You Label a Weakness! How a Permanent Beta Mindset Transforms Education
Every single person in our schools should feel joy, purpose, and fulfillment. Join me as we explore how adopting a Permanent Beta mindset can revolutionize education, allowing everyone to level-up, make a difference, and feel great. It’s an amazing presentation where we laugh, reflect and adopt a growth mindset and a wonderfully positive mindset on the work we do. So many come up to me afterward and said, “That is exactly what we needed!” Fun!

2. Breakout Session with District Leadership: Lead Every Day & Level-Up Your Personal & Professional Leadership
Elevate your leadership skills and transform your school into a thriving learning community. Learn the six tenets of leadership and how they can serve others, along with practical insights from my book Along Came a Leader: A Guide to Personal and Professional Leadership.

3. Breakout Session with Support Staff: The Six Things Everyone Needs to Hear, The Five People You Need in Your Life, and Why We Get Our Best Ideas in the Shower!
That’s a long title! LOL. Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Join me as we explore strategies to bring back energy, passion, and control to your life, ensuring that no one leaves work wondering if they made a difference. Much of the content here is based on my book Unthink Before Bed which is helping thousands of children and educators reclaim their days and nights with the coping skills they need to confront and conquer anxiety, stress, imposter syndrome, and fear of tomorrow. It’s changing lives.

Let’s continue to inspire and uplift one another. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students and colleagues. Thank you for being amazing educators!

Always forward,

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
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