Dr Julie Connor

As a TED speaker, educator, leadership consultant, and mental health advocate, I prepare youth to be leaders and adults to be mentors and role models. I help youth and adults talk about tough topics like mental illness, bullying, and conflict resolution. I empower others with communication skills to create strong personal boundaries and strengthen relationships. I am the author of an award-winning personal goal-setting book, Dreams to Action Trailblazer's Guide. I have been a teacher, program director, instructional coach, student teaching supervisor, and professional development coordinator in public and parochial schools in urban, rural, and suburban communities. I am also TESOL certified and a proud VIPKid teacher.

I believe outstanding teachers establish clear common procedures; students understand at all times what they must know and be able to do to experience success. I love to challenge students with opportunities to use higher-level thinking and cooperative learning strategies. I incorporate games into instruction; games challenge students to develop communication and conflict resolution skills. They must follow directions, practice patience, and take turns. I provide students with many opportunities to talk with one another, solve problems, successfully debate, and practice public speaking skills. I involve students in courageous conversations about diversity and inclusion. I invite students to use creative writing to strengthen relationships. Students must have opportunities to discuss controversial issues.I also provide students with leadership experiences. http://bit.ly/ControversialTopicsWithYouth. I provide students with tools to address bullying and build positive relationships. http://bit.ly/StandUptoBullies. My TED talk reflects my commitment to encourage students to challenge labels and discover their own positive identity. http://bit.ly/TEDxYouth-Louisburg. I also believe we must encourage youth to discover their dreams. http://bit.ly/Talk2TeensAboutDreams. I provide opportunities for students to create SMART personal goals. http://bit.ly/SMARTPersonalGoals. More information is available on my website at www.DrJulieConnor.com

TEDxYouth Featured Speaker, http://bit.ly/TEDxYouth-Louisburg. Best Ever You Top 10 Books: Dreams to Action Trailblazer's http://bit.ly/DreamsToActionTrailblazersGuideGuide. Contributing author to Best Ever You Teen, http://bit.ly/BestEverYouTeens-DrJulieConnor. National Speakers Association, NSA-KC Board Member. Awesome Ambitions Mentor.

Ed.D. Urban Leadership and Policies in Education; Dissertation: African-American Student Perceptions of Their Parents' and Guardians' Attitudes Towards Education and Academic Achievement http://bit.ly/AfricanAmericanStudentPerceptionsDISSERTATION; Ed.S. School Administration (Elementary; Secondary); M.S. Curriculum & Instruction; B.S. Elementary Education. Teaching Certifications: K-8; Secondary Science, Secondary Language Arts, Secondary Speech & Theatre.

I have inspired and motivated youth and adult audiences throughout the country for more than 30 years. I train youth to be leaders. I empower adults with tools to prepare sustainable youth leaders and collaborative teams. My areas of expertise as a speaker and professional development presenter include vision, mission, and goal-setting strategies; teamwork and collaboration; communication, consensus, and conflict resolution; classroom management, and reaching out to at-risk youth. I facilitate courageous conversations about diversity and inclusion with youth and educators. I develop anti-bullying programs. In my TED talk, I encourage youth to develop positive self-esteem, http://bit.ly/TEDxYouth-Louisburg