Available from Dr. John Draper, January 2014
Excellent for Administrators/School Boards/School Districts
Crucial Conversations About America’s Public Schools--For decades elected officials, business leaders, the general public, parents, and even school employees have been fed a steady diet of warnings about “declining schools”. Dr. John Draper steps back from the rhetoric and looks at the reality of what is really happening across America’s schools. He identifies some of the Talk, the Truth, and the Crucial Conversations that school leaders need to lead. Dr. Draper shares his TLC Formula that reframes the conversation to be more effective with every audience. He engages the audience to face their own “Curse of Knowledge” and stop spreading the negativity that unwittingly fuels the urban myth of failing public schools. Educators will feel supported, appreciated, and encouraged to engage in the crucial conversations required to build community support for public schools. (This is a 60-90 minute presentation.)
Paddling Upstream in a Public School Canoe: Public Schools That Work—There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root--Henry David Thoreau. In this presentation Dr. Draper pushes aside the branches of evil and leads you on a journey to discover the root feeding the negativity directed at public schools. Argument increases the polarization, data deepens the divide and your own Curse of Knowledge makes communication difficult. Even our own employees are deceived by this insidious public myth and, if we can’t win them, we can’t win the nation. Dr. Draper will invite you to be part of Public Schools That Work, a national organization providing a simple, cost-free, methodical approach to exterminating this myth among 8 million K-12 public school employees—and the American public.(This is a 45-60 minute presentation)
Turning Negative Heat Into Positive Energy—All across America public education is coming under fire—and school leaders are expected to lead the changes needed to respond to the new realities of our nation. Unfortunately, many times the only change that occurs as a result of the diligent, data-driven, thoughtful strategic planning led by school leaders is the election of some new school board members who are against everything and the eventual firing of the superintendent. In many cases our own people undermine the change needed and contribute, sometimes unwittingly, to maintaining a status quo that is leading to our demise. This presentation lays out a roadmap for leading effective change based on solid research. Dr. Draper translates that research into common-sense actions that will help you lead change without losing your job! (This is a 45-60 minute presentation.)
Waltzing Homefrom Work—This hands-on, practical approach to building a positive school climate comes from yearsof experience as an assistant principal in charge of discipline for 1500 middle school students. How do you get an assembly quiet, get students to work to make you happy, find out who stole the money from the locker room without having to search, get students to tell the truth, or hold a parent in the palm of your hand? Dr. John Draper shares down home, common sense (that's not so common anymore) to help you stop discipline problems from escalating and spreading. The workshop will help you laugh, learn and leave a legacy that will positively impact students for years to come. (This presentationcan be delivered in multiple formats. As a basic presentation designed for anyone who works with students—it is an excellent District-wide, 60 minute presentation. I like having all support employees present for this one! In full format, it is a 3 hour block designed for principals. I have a real heart for assistant principals and love to present this for new principals and assistant principals.)
Dr. John Draper
National Consultant
National School Public Relations Association
703 232 4430