Amplify Speakers
Back-to-School & Teacher In-Service Keynote Speakers
The back-to-school convocation or first in-service day sets the tone for an entire school year. The audience is teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, bus drivers, custodial and food service staff, and administrators, many of whom are returning tired and some of whom are brand new. They have sat through plenty of opening speakers, and they can tell in about two minutes whether this one understands their work.
The top keynote speakers for back-to-school convocations and teacher in-service days are Shari Collins, Sean Fisher, Jim Knight, Dr. Kristen Lee, Jody Urquhart and Joel Zeff. Each one either comes from education or has spent years working with educators, and each speaks to the people side of the job rather than another initiative.
A great district or campus keynote does not add to the to-do list. It reconnects staff with why they teach, gives them honest language for burnout and conflict, and builds the sense that the whole building is on the same team before students walk in.
The Roster
Speakers Who Understand a School Building
From inside education. Shari Collins remains a certified educator in two states and facilitates professional development for educators across the country with the National Education Association. Sean Fisher holds an Education Specialist degree and a master's in education, works with PreK–12 educators, and leads The Fisher Mediation Group on conflict resolution. Jim Knight taught in the Florida public school system for six years before leading global training for Hard Rock International.
Burnout and wellbeing, done honestly. Dr. Kristen Lee is a behavioral science educator at Northeastern University and a practicing psychotherapist. Rachel Druckenmiller spent 13 years as a director of wellbeing and employee engagement and created the UNMUTED movement. Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth, who has taught at Princeton, Boston University and Loyola University Chicago, speaks on compassion for people in caring professions.
Energy for the first day back. Joel Zeff pulls audience members on stage for improvisational exercises built around celebrating success, and Jody Urquhart works the room like a stand-up comedian, without a single slide, on burnout and connection.
Leadership for administrators and staff culture. Howard Fero, PhD, known as The Leadership Doc, directs graduate leadership programs at Albertus Magnus College. Matthew M. Anderson has spent more than two decades developing leaders across nonprofit, government and public sectors and speaks on staff culture. Four-time national champion coach John Cook and award-winning educator and performance scientist Toby Brooks speak to what it takes to develop young people and to keep going when the work gets hard.
How to Choose a Speaker for Your Back-to-School or In-Service Day
Know the audience size and mix. A district-wide convocation in an arena needs a different speaker than a single campus in a library. Tell us whether support staff and administrators will be in the room.
Pick one feeling to start the year with. Renewed purpose, a sense of team, permission to talk about burnout, or a fresh approach to conflict. Trying to cover all four in one keynote usually covers none.
Pair the keynote with breakouts. Many of these speakers also lead workshops, so the morning keynote can lead into an afternoon session for leaders or a specific grade band. See our workshop and breakout facilitators.
Ask about professional development requirements. If the day needs to count toward professional development hours, mention it when you inquire so the speaker can provide objectives and materials.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should a teacher in-service keynote focus on?
The most effective in-service keynotes focus on people rather than programs: purpose, staff culture, burnout and wellbeing, communication and conflict. Teachers get initiative training all year. The keynote is the one chance to reconnect them with why they do the work.
Who are good back-to-school speakers for a school district?
On the Amplify roster, Shari Collins, Sean Fisher, Jim Knight, Dr. Kristen Lee, Jody Urquhart and Joel Zeff are strong fits for district and campus audiences. The right choice depends on your audience size, your theme and the energy you want in the room.
When should we book a back-to-school keynote speaker?
Most districts hold convocation and in-service days in August, which is a busy window. Start the search in the spring if you can, and earlier for a specific speaker.
Can the keynote be followed by workshops for staff?
Yes. Many of our speakers deliver a morning keynote and an afternoon workshop or leadership session on the same day, which helps the ideas carry into the year.
How do we book an in-service speaker through Amplify Speakers?
Send us your date, expected attendance, who will be in the room and your theme for the year. We will come back with a shortlist, usually within one business day.
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RELATED TOPICS & INDUSTRIES
Education Keynote Speakers | College & Campus Speakers | Burnout Speakers | Workplace Culture | Conflict Resolution | Funny Keynote Speakers | Government & Public Sector | Workshops & Breakouts | All Topics | Full Roster
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Planning convocation or an in-service day?
Tell us your date, your audience and the feeling you want staff to start the year with. We will send a shortlist of speakers who understand educators, usually within one business day.