August 28th was one of those special days that remind us all why we chose education. This year, I had the privilege of kicking off the school year at Lincolnview School District in Ohio, where I was invited by Curriculum Director Kelly Looser to deliver a keynote that set the tone for an incredible year ahead.
The theme? “Teachers are Legends.” This message resonates deeply with me because, in truth, educators are shaping the future, classroom by classroom. Lincolnview dedicated an inservice day to this important work, and I had the honor of delivering an inspiring keynote and leading breakout sessions focused on mindfulness, self-care, and leadership tailored for teachers, administrators, and the students they serve. Each person left with something powerful to bring back to their school year, their colleagues, and, most importantly, their students.
Keynote Presentation: “Teachers Are Legends”
The day began with an energizing icebreaker session led by Kelly Looser, bringing everyone together and creating an open, positive atmosphere. Shortly after, I took the stage to deliver the keynote, “Teachers are Legends.” In a world that often overlooks the dedication, skill, and heart it takes to be an educator, we emphasized the essential role that teachers play. I encouraged each educator to recognize the impact they make daily–not only on their students’ minds but on their hearts. I highlighted that our impact is often situational and at any given moment, when we step up, we can leave a lasting impact on a student’s life. I challenged everyone in the sports area to accept the challenge to see the greatness in every child and the greatness in every colleague.
Together, we explored the concept of intentional leadership and how it’s woven into every interaction teachers have. Teachers are heroes in a multitude of small, meaningful ways, and those actions compound over time. I invited each attendee to see themselves as champions, inspiring confidence and ambition in the students they teach. The energy was contagious, and it’s safe to say we all left with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in our work.
Breakout Sessions: Fostering Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Leadership
1. Mindfulness and Self-Care for Teachers (One for Elementary Grade-Bands and another for Secondary Grade-Bands):
Educators are all too familiar with the demands and stresses that come with the territory. In these sessions, we discussed the power of mindfulness–how taking a few moments to breathe, reflect, and reset can make all the difference. Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for effective teaching and sustainable joy in the profession. Teachers were given strategies to weave mindfulness into their daily routines and a toolkit for modeling self-care for students, promoting a healthier classroom environment. Teachers were also given a new perspective and questions in which to explore their learning environment and life. I leaned heavily on my work from my book Unthink Before Bed that helps everyone build the skills they need to confront and cope with anxiety, frustration and overwhelm.
2. Leadership for Administrators: Building Schools on the 6 Tenets of Leadership
Administrators joined a session focused on building and sustaining a powerful leadership culture rooted in the six tenets of leadership I discuss in my book, Along Came a Leader. These tenets–attitude, communication, tenacity, vision, authenticity, and accountability–are more than words; they’re guiding principles for meaningful change. We examined how school leaders can instill these values across teams, creating schools where everyone feels valued and empowered. We worked hard to on the perspective on empathy in helping build a learning environment that allows our staff and students to become their best. Leaders also face an incredible amount of pressure and workload; we worked on applicable strategies to help.
It was incredible to see teachers and administrators embrace these concepts and understand their ripple effect on students, families, and the community.
A Great Day of Learning, Inspiration, and Connection
The response from the educators and leaders at Lincolnview was touching. There was genuine excitement in the air, and a multitude of attendees lined up to get their copies of Along Came a Leader signed, eager to dive deeper into the six tenets of leadership. Many educators also picked up copies of Unthink Before Bed to bring mindful bedtime routines home to their families. It’s always a pleasure to see educators looking not only to inspire their students but also to enrich their lives and the lives of those they love.
The Lasting Impact of Intentional Leadership in Education
When a school invests in leadership development, mindfulness, and self-care, everyone benefits:
– Teachers gain resilience and feel appreciated, supported, and motivated.
– Administrators build cohesive, effective teams and nurture a positive culture.
– Students develop character, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for learning.
– Families see the values of leadership and mindfulness reinforced in their children’s lives.
The work we do in education is challenging, yet every effort to uplift and empower educators has exponential rewards for future generations.
I’m passionate about helping school districts celebrate and elevate their teachers. If your district is looking for a powerful start to your year or would like to focus on building leadership and mindful practices, I’d be honored to bring this message to your community.
Visit www.kellycroy.com to learn more about my presentations, keynotes, and workshops, and let’s make this year legendary together!
If your school is ready to make the leap, let’s talk. Together, we can build the leaders of tomorrow while thriving today.
Always forward,
Kelly
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Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
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I would like to share a few words about my experience working with Kelly Croy.
Kelly offered me mentorship and guidance many times as we prepared for his visit to Lincolnview via phone calls, email, texts, and Zoom calls. He was very inspirational for someone like me who is still learning the ropes of being a District Leader. I knew from the first Zoom call that our district was in good hands because Kelly’s passion for helping others was so evident from the very beginning.
Kelly came to our school district at the beginning of the year after our teachers had just a few days with students. When Kelly and I had spoken on the phone, I told him that I wanted our staff here at Lincolnview to feel valued, supported, motivated, and energized. That is quite a tall order to ask someone to help with at the beginning of the year when many people are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Kelly was AWESOME! Not only did he make sure to greet our teachers and staff before he even started speaking, he formed real connections in the short time he was here. Teachers were lined up waiting for his autograph which he took the time to sign each and every book. He made sure to talk with each person that came up to him and I never saw Kelly look exhausted. He was running around ALL day…barely ate lunch because he sacrificed that time I had set up for him to go visit with our High School Volleyball Team. He delivered a STELLAR motivational speech on the spot for our girls and never thought twice about giving up his lunch break to go speak with them.
He had people approach him all day long asking for guidance and input and he never waivered. He would stop, take the time to make a real connection with each person, smile, then go on to the next stop on his Lincolnview Tour (I asked him to provide as many interactions with staff as possible and he DELIVERED!). He is a TRUE example of someone who serves others and gets pure joy from bringing joy to those around him. He was motivational, inspirational, and down to Earth.
When he led the admin team meeting, he was realistic about the challenges we all face and also motivating to keep pushing and to dig deeper to think about the big picture. We are very thankful he came to our district and our teachers have raved about him ever since. In fact, our High School Leadership Class read his book and asked him to join them on a Zoom call to discuss and review his book and all the lessons they learned from reading his words. OF COURSE, Kelly accepted the invitation and it was a giant success! He made a lasting impact on many people in just one day. That’s what Kelly does.
Thank you Kelly for your mentorship and enthusiasm and for sharing your love of learning and teaching to those of us at Lincolnview!
Kelly Looser
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Lincolnview Local Schools