NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR STUDENTS. 
THEY NEED YOU TO TEACH THEM SEVERAL SIMPLE THINGS ABOUT LIFE.

As a teacher, public school administrator and Faculty Instructor/Advisor at a Faculty of Education, I have learned this is so true.

After 40 years in Education, the miracle stories I see and hear are amazing.

One individual dropped into my office after decades just to say Hi...and thanks for not giving up on me many years ago. He took me out to see his Black Convertible Mustang and told me about his life.

Another one thanked me for just being there and understanding his behaviour as a 14 year old. ...and guess what..he said.... I have just finished my Ph.D.

All of your students need  you. Some more than others.

You must teach students the tools to be successful.
You must teach resilience and what that looks like at every stage of development.

Frank O'Dea never forgot these things!! 
Frank became the inspiration behind Second Cup. The Coffee Shop Empire.

This is his story as the Key Note Speaker at  START UP CANADA, ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
November 2016. 


CLICK HERE FOR FRANK'S LINK:> Franks Link

He says especially remember
...Hope, Vision and Action.

Have Hope
Develop a Vision
Take Action,  toward that vision every day.

Believe in Yourself 
Be spontaneous
Tell your story
Network until you develop the contacts that help you move forward.

When he was around 29....life was not so good.
A drunk
Dirty
Homeless
Begging for change 
In Toronto on a street corner with others like him.

A guy one day, dropped 10 cents in his cup and Frank just looked at it.  
Something happened in that moment.
He just decided that was it.
If he did not change in that moment he felt he would probably just end up dead.

He never drank again!
He started his journey. 

He kept hope, developed a plan to sell coffee, developed vision, and took a little action every day. He networked and told his story and shared his dream.

He never forgot those that helped him along the way.
The man that gave him the dime, changed his life that day.


He now owns a multi million dollar International Coffee Franchise Empire called  Second Cup that employs thousands and helps millions of people every year. He pays it forward.

Never Give Up On Your Students!

It's amazing what they can do, with a little positive support and belief in themselves.

That's what a  21st Century Teacher does.
Teachers have that magic to help kids develop a dream.
They can teach them to be creative, tech savvy,  problem solvers.
Teachers can develop collaborative, diverse classrooms where making mistakes is a learning opportunity.
They can build classrooms where kids can feel included and take risks.
A place where they develop relationships and appreciate each others strengths and weaknesses.
A place where you can use manipulatives and learn through the arts.
A place where researched based strategies are implemented that make a difference in learning. 

Teachers can help students believe in themselves and have hope for a bright future!

That's probably what good teaching looks like now and beyond  the 21st Century.

What do you think?

Mark

Also Posted to Social Entrepreneurship.