Within Our Ranks

When the bell rings, the classroom becomes the stage. The teacher becomes the keynote speaker. Students become the audience. As with any keynote presentation, the first moments determine everything.

How do I share what I know beyond my classroom or building? How do I help more educators without leaving education behind? That question led Dr. Cherise Smith to Within Our Ranks, and her story reflects what happens when experience meets the right community. Join her journey as a member of the Within Our Ranks Inner Circle and learn why so many veteran educators find new purpose through this work.

Dwight Carter shared a journey that speaks directly to veteran educators who crave growth, clarity, and renewed impact. His experience inside the Within Our Ranks Inner Circle shows what happens when intention meets structure and community. I’m so proud of Dwight as a longtime friend and now a fellow educational speaker.

In a recent conversation on the School Culture and Climate Show, I spoke with Alexandra Desbiens-Leighton, a member of our Within Our Ranks Inner Circle. Her story offers a powerful example of how experience, passion, and purpose can align into meaningful work in the educational speaking space.

I am deeply honored to announce that I received the 2025 NSA Chair Leadership Award from the National Speakers Association. This recognition celebrates leadership that goes above and beyond to strengthen the NSA community, acknowledging a commitment to serve, support, and empower the speakers who inspire audiences across the nation.

Through my Within Our Ranks program, I help educators confidently step into this space and thrive. We don't just dream about the stage; we prepare for it. Let me walk you through the key steps you need to follow once you land your first speaking engagement. This is what “Within Our Ranks” ready looks like, a place where you belong and are supported.

Hey gang! Summer is almost here, and if you are an educator, you already know what that means—two months of “rest” that somehow end up jam-packed with side gigs, house projects, and maybe some lesson planning you swore you would not do.

At its core, professional development should serve two purposes: inspiration and strategy. Educators want to walk away energized, but they also need actionable tools they can use in their classrooms the very next day. Too often, though, PD misses the mark, leaving teachers bored, frustrated, and disconnected. As a result, we need to rethink our professional development approach as educators and presenters.  

Greetings, gang! We're delving into the dynamic and often misunderstood world of educational speaking. I'm thrilled to share insights into how speakers can revolutionize education and professional development, especially through programs like Within Our Ranks. 

Jennifer Mazzochi joins the School Climate and Culture Show to share some insights and reflections on how co-teaching has transformed her teaching journey, enhanced the classroom environment, and created opportunities for student growth and understanding.

Recently, I had the privilege of working with Allison Gollin, the founder of Gollin Educational Services. Her insights further deepened my understanding of the challenges families and educators face navigating the special education process. Supporting students, forming productive partnerships, and the intricacies of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 processes are just the beginning of understanding how this impacts the climate and culture in schools.  

Recognizing and embracing the idea of differentiated learning pathways is vital—a teaching approach that values flexibility, creativity, and adaptability in meeting diverse learning needs.  The dynamic duo Kara and Meg from IntegratED join the podcast to share the fantastic work they have accomplished by implementing diverse learning pathways for their students.

In life, no good stories start with eating a salad.  Great success stories begin with a bold move, a moment of courage, a creative risk, or a leap of faith.  Many of you have tuned in and read the blogs for “Stand Tall Leadership Show” and now “The School Climate and Culture Show.” In this episode, we wanted to share a bit of how our journeys in educational speaking began.  Join us for a trip down memory lane and hear the origin stories of Steve Bollar and Meg Diede!

This an exclusive opportunity that you will want to take advantage of. It's called Within Our Ranks, and it's your ticket to making a real difference in the world of education. It's more than just a program; it's a transformative experience for educators who aspire to be professional speakers and make their voices heard.

Gang, let’s face it.  August does not have to be an entire month of Sunday scaries for teachers and administrators.  If you are in education and have been on social media in the last few weeks, the posts about dreading a return to school starting with days of terrible professional development are not only hysterical, but there is some truth in each of these statements.

What if your next professional development or training day is a raving success? Your staff would be engaged, laugh, and feel inspired. People would be buzzing with ideas instead of phones buzzing with texts! But how? Hire a keynote speaker. Now is the time to hire a keynote speaker.  Having a keynote speaker at an event can be a valuable addition that can enhance the experience for attendees.