Dr. Don Parker

Keynote Speech

Dr. Parker is an energetic, humorous, and passionate speaker. He is one of the nation’s most sought after speakers, speaking all over the country inspiring teachers to build positive relationships with their students, and charging principals and school administrators to build and maintain a strong culture of learning at their school. Presentations can also be customized to align with your current school or district school improvement plans.

Full or Half-Day Workshops

AA #1115 Building Trusting Relationships with At-Risk Students

This workshop discusses the characteristics of at-risk students and the difficulties they face in building trusting relationships with adults in school settings. As a result of attending this workshop and engaging in group work and hands on activities, participants will be able to:

1. Use connection strategies necessary to build meaningful relationships with at-risk students
2. Decode the true meaning of behavior to prescribe the correct intervention
3. Foster a Relationship Building Mindset with adults so they won’t give up on their students
4. Techniques to diffuse challenging students’ misbehavior
5. Give students hope to set goals and strive for a brighter future

AA #1514 Building a Resilience Program for At-Risk Students

This professional development workshop offers coping strategies for at-risk students facing the combined elements of academic performance, high achievement standards, media messages, peer pressure, and family tension. As a result of participating in this hands-on workshop participants will learn how to:

1. Recognize risk factors and employ protective factors for students at-risk
2. 2. Apply effective methods to teach personal resilience to students
3. Foster academic resilience and emotional intelligence to increase student achievement
4. Teach students to demonstrate resiliency after making a mistake or an unfortunate situation

AA #3791 Enhancing Culturally Responsive Teaching Through Relevance and Relationships

This workshop provides educators with the tools they need to maximize their knowledge of their students and their learning processes. As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Strengthen their ability to improve academic and social development of diverse learners
2. Create culturally responsive learning communities
3. Use culturally responsive teaching as a response to social and societal issues
4. Successfully engage parents and students to make them feel welcomed and valued

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training: Just Because I Was Born To Stand Out Doesn’t Mean That I Don’t Fit In!

Do you need to elevate your workplace culture? This course is designed to allow all learners to gain insights into the perspectives and realities of individuals with identities that are different from their own and how others can experience the same workplace in very different ways. The course teaches learners what they can do to proactively support diversity and inclusion and:

1. Key definitions and concepts related to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
2. Identities & Perspectives
3. Unconscious Bias
4. Microaggressions and Forms of Exclusion
5. What You Can Do

This training is your chance to increase your employees’ confidence with a topic that can often come with anxiety and tension. Let’s shape the conversation and influence outcomes within your organization to foster a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion at all levels.

 

Burning Up Instead of Burning Out: Improving School Leader and Teacher Performance While Improving Physical, Intellectual, and Emotional Health

This workshop was designed to inspire educators and empower them to activate healthy coping methods to combat stress so they can perform at a high level. In a recent study, District Leaders, Principals and Teachers reported higher levels of anxiety and burnout than the general population and were at higher risk of depression. The sheer quantity of work, worrying about the social and emotional health of students and a lack of time to focus on planning, teaching, and learning were the major causes of stress that can lead to burnout. Participants who attend this session will participate in discussion and learn how to:

1. Self-reflect and discover strengths and areas needing improvement in their life
2. Self-assess physical, emotional, and social health
3. Derive a time sensitive plan to enhance areas in their life they deem needing improvement
4. Control their subconscious mind to attract positivity and live their best life

Bouncing Back from the Coronavirus Pandemic

Administrators, teachers, parents, and students all underestimated how challenging it would be to return to school after 18 months of being at home. National research reports that on average, students are 2 plus years below grade level and that behavior referrals, fighting and disrespect toward staff are all significantly higher than before. This workshop will help educators redefine and establish critical elements of a safe learning environment that is conducive to learning including consistency, expectations, and relationships. School leaders and teachers will also understand the importance of teacher efficacy and how the level of belief in themselves transfers to students’ self-esteem and academic achievement.