Home Speaker List Topic List About ESG Contact Us


Education
Speakers Group
307 Emerald Drive
Thibodaux, LA 70301
Phone: 985-438-9986
Fax: 985-446-0093

 

Dr. Zacharie J. Clements
      During his 30-year speaking career, Zach has addressed over two thousand education audiences in all 50 states, in Canada, and throughout the world. Their cheers and tears have reflected his gift for inspiring people to perform at their very best. Zach knows what it means to be a teacher: His audiences respond enthusiastically to his experience-based understanding of the education system. His unique use of humor and candor to address the truth about what’s happening in today’s schools is personally and professionally compelling.

      After Zach’s dynamic presentations, people with a broad range of personal and professional diversity in districts just like yours understand how their attitudes affect behaviors which, in turn, affect performance. He keeps his listeners focused on personal responsibility while showing them how they can remain centered by laughing at life. Audiences at his keynotes, general addresses, and “all hands” presentations to entire school families have been brought to their feet time and time again by Zach’s crackling excitement and straight-to-the heart insights. He often returns to school districts to deliver his entire series of speeches. His acclaim continues to grow after each one.

      His work has put him in the company of such speakers as President Gerald Ford, Jesse Jackson, Dan Rather, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Henry Kissinger, and Barbara Walters. Yet this respected, much sought-after speaker endured an orphaned, Depression Era childhood in an African-American and Italian ghetto. He’s been through it all – poor performance at public schools, trouble with the law, and the constant lure of easy money from the rackets that flourished openly in his neighborhood. But his indomitable will to succeed was nourished by love and wisdom from his immigrant grandparents and inspiration and help from his teachers, who started him on the road to respect for learning. As he proudly states, “If it weren’t for American public schools, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Zach has earned Bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of New York in Albany, and a second Master’s and a Doctorate from the University of Buffalo. A former full-professor at the University of Vermont for 13 years, he has also been a classroom teacher of English, biology, history, and reading.

      Much of the impact, emotion and honesty of Zach’s message is rooted in his inspiring upward journey from ghetto to public acclaim – energized by an avid hold on life, tempered by old-world values, and warmed by a teacher’s love of people.

Topics Include:

“Miracles Begin with You”

Miracles Begin with You Through humor, role playing and drama in this presentation recommended for his first visit to a district, Zach:
  • explores hypocrisy in contemporary society and its impact on schools (“In-my-day” disease,     Responsibility buck-passing syndrome, and more);
  • portrays what‘s happening within schools (retire-itis, imagined burnout, educator buck passing);
  • allows educators to assess their own attitudes without feeling threatened;
  • leaves educators laughing at themselves, yet challenged to make a positive difference in students‘    lives;
  • rejuvenates total staff audiences, both certified and support.

    • “God Don't Make No Junk”

    Delivering a tonic for anyone who works with kids, Zach:
  • takes the audience on a kindergarten journey, portraying the immense diversity of personalities    among children;
  • describes the injustices which often occur within the education system;
  • asks the tough question, ”Whose responsibility is it?“;
  • presents the basics of his Education Goals Student Model.


    • “Pause for Reflection, Joy and Inspiration”

    In his uniquely personable way, Zach:
  • salutes the unsung heroes in today's schools;
  • playfully satirizes the “gurus” of education;
  • underscores the relationship between professional and personal goals;
  • concludes with his famous “grandfather story,” which offers a poignant philosophy of life;
  • renews the joy of teaching.


    • “The A-B-Ps of Education Leadership”

    Taking the superintendent/principal/education leader audience on an emotional rollercoaster, Zach:

  • provides insights on how positive Attitudes affect Behaviors which, in turn, affect Performance;
  • brings perspective to the public’s changing attitudes about schools;
  • retains focus on education’s most critical resource: people;
  • celebrates the power of focusing on what’s right with schools;
  • illustrates the positive aspects of change and uncertainty;
  • rejuvenates the audience and challenges them to become role models for positive schools.


    • “The Power of Change”

    Addressing the fears and concerns of educators surrounding the unsettling changes sweeping contemporary education, Zach:
  • allays veteran educator’s fears of change.
  • provides his audience an understandable, positive framework in which to view change in a     positive, non-stressful manner.
  • shares upbeat anecdotes which reinforce how to successfully embrace change.
  • offers practical, real-life techniques for meeting the challenges of change.
  • enables his audience to refocus their energies in a positive, useful direction at school and at home.

    • To request information on Dr. Zachary Clements, e-mail zclements@educationspeakersgroup.com

     Copyright © 2004 Education Speakers Group