The Power of a Teacher | Adam Saenz | TEDxYale

Summary

In this heartfelt narrative, Dr. Adam Lewis Signs shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth to a licensed psychologist, driven by the profound impact of two influential teachers. His story illustrates the life-changing power of educators, as he overcame personal challenges and academic struggles to achieve success. The narrative also highlights his adoption of a young girl, Lauren, emphasizing the generational impact educators can have on students' lives, shaping their future and self-worth.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher was a pivotal and traumatic experience that led to a deep reflection on their career and the challenges of teaching.
• 👨‍🏫 The initial attempt at classroom management using the students' names on the board proved ineffective, demonstrating the complexity of behavior management in an inner-city third-grade classroom.
• 👦 The speaker, as a child, was a troubled student with a history of legal issues and undiagnosed depression, yet eventually became a licensed psychologist, illustrating the power of transformation.
• 🔑 The speaker's career shift from psychology to substitute teaching was driven by a desire to understand classroom dynamics firsthand, highlighting the importance of practical experience.
• 💡 A significant insight from the speaker's substitute teaching experience was the realization of the demanding nature of teaching and the respect it deserves, regardless of academic credentials.
• 🤔 The speaker's curiosity about the 'why' of education, beyond the 'how', led to research into the psychological factors influencing educators' job satisfaction and longevity.
• 👧 The story of 'Lou', a troubled youth who became a psychologist, serves as a testament to the impact educators can have on students' lives and the potential for change.
• 💌 Two letters from teachers played a crucial role in the speaker's life transformation, emphasizing the power of positive affirmation and belief in a student's potential.
• 🎓 The speaker's educational journey from a high school dropout to earning a PhD illustrates the importance of perseverance and the influence of educators in shaping one's future.
• 👨‍👧 The adoption story of 'Lauren' and her transformation into a loved and valued family member underscores the generational impact educators can have on students' lives.
• 🏆 The speaker's professional success and the ability to choose his path are attributed to the educators who believed in him, demonstrating the lasting impact of teacher support.

Q & A

What significant event occurred on August 25th, 2008 for the speaker?

The speaker's significant event on August 25th, 2008 was their first day as a substitute teacher in an inner-city third-grade classroom.

What was the speaker's initial method for behavior management in the classroom?

The speaker's initial method for behavior management was to write the names of the students on the board, believing it would instill discipline.

How did the speaker's first day as a substitute teacher affect their career?

The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher was a traumatic event that led to a change in their career path, as they realized the challenges of teaching and the importance of having firsthand experience in a classroom.

What was the turning point for the speaker in terms of their understanding of teaching?

The turning point for the speaker was the realization that having degrees and theoretical knowledge was not enough to understand the demands and challenges of teaching; actual classroom experience was crucial.

What personal experience did the speaker share about their past?

The speaker shared that they were once a troubled youth with a history of legal issues, depression, and drug use, who was adopted by a family and later found success through education.

What role did the speaker's teachers play in their transformation?

The speaker's teachers, Mrs. McRoberts and Mrs. Exley, played a pivotal role by recognizing and affirming the speaker's potential, which eventually led them to pursue higher education and a career in psychology.

What was the impact of the letters from the speaker's teachers?

The letters from the speaker's teachers provided affirmation and belief in their abilities, which helped the speaker to reconsider their self-identity and ultimately change the trajectory of their life.

How did the speaker's perspective on education change after their experience as a substitute teacher?

The speaker developed a deep sense of admiration for educators and became intensely curious about the psychological variables that drive vocational satisfaction for educators, focusing on the 'why' behind education.

What was the significance of the speaker's adoption of Lauren?

The adoption of Lauren by the speaker demonstrated the generational power that educators have in the classroom and the potential for educators to make life-changing impacts on students' lives.

What message does the speaker convey about the power of educators?

The speaker conveys that educators have the power to change lives, influence students' self-perception, and inspire them to reach their potential, as evidenced by their own transformation and the adoption of Lauren.

How did the speaker's understanding of their identity evolve over time?

The speaker's understanding of their identity evolved from being a troubled youth to recognizing their potential and abilities, thanks to the influence of educators, and ultimately adopting a new name, Adam, to represent their transformation.

Outlines

00:00

😅 Embarrassing First Day as a Substitute Teacher

The speaker recounts their disastrous first day as a substitute teacher on August 25th, 2008, in an inner-city third-grade classroom. Despite being a licensed psychologist, their attempts at behavior management, such as writing students' names on the board, failed miserably. The day was filled with mishaps, culminating in a student pointing out the speaker's mistake in counting students. The experience was a wake-up call about the challenges of teaching and sparked a newfound respect for educators.

05:00

🌟 Transformation from Troubled Youth to Psychologist

The speaker shares their personal journey from being a troubled youth with a history of legal issues and depression to becoming a licensed psychologist. Growing up in the Lower Rio Grand Valley near the Mexican border, they were arrested and eventually taken in by a family in Katy, Texas. Despite a relapse into depression and drug use after aging out of the foster system, two heartfelt letters from teachers reignited their belief in their potential. This led them to pursue higher education, ultimately transforming their life's trajectory.

10:01

🎓 The Power of Education and Personal Growth

The speaker reflects on the transformative power of education and the pivotal role educators played in their life. They recount their academic journey, starting with passing an introductory English course, which led to a series of successes in higher education, culminating in a PhD in Psychology. The speaker emphasizes the importance of educators' belief in their students' potential, which can inspire them to achieve beyond their own expectations.

15:01

💖 The Impact of Love and the Role of Educators

The speaker transitions to discussing their daughter, Lauren, whom they adopted after she had spent two years in protective services. They share a touching story about their first daddy-daughter dance and the importance of conveying love and value to a child who has never experienced it. The speaker draws a parallel between the influence of educators in their own life and their role as a father, highlighting the profound, generational impact educators can have on students.

🏆 A Life Changed by Teachers and a Commitment to Education

In conclusion, the speaker answers the question posed by their mother during a juvenile detention incident, reflecting on their identity and purpose. They introduce themselves as Dr. Adam Lewis Signs, a psychologist and educator, whose life was profoundly impacted by teachers. The speaker expresses gratitude to the educators who believed in them and emphasizes the enduring influence of teachers on students' lives.

Keywords

💡Traumatic event

A traumatic event refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing occurrence that can cause lasting emotional effects. In the video, the speaker describes their first day as a substitute teacher as a traumatic event due to the chaotic and overwhelming experience, which ultimately led to a significant change in their career perspective.

💡Behavior management

Behavior management involves strategies and techniques used to influence and control the behavior of individuals, often in an educational setting. The speaker initially attempted to manage the classroom by writing names on the board as a form of punishment, which highlights the challenges faced in behavior management, especially in an inner-city third-grade classroom.

💡Inner city

The term 'inner city' typically refers to the central and often socio-economically disadvantaged areas of a city. The script mentions an 'inner city third-grade classroom,' emphasizing the unique challenges educators face in such environments, including dealing with students from diverse and sometimes difficult backgrounds.

💡Vocation

A vocation is a person's calling or career, often involving a strong sense of purpose or dedication. The speaker reflects on teaching as a vocation, acknowledging the demanding and challenging nature of the job, and the profound impact educators can have on students' lives.

💡Psychological variables

Psychological variables are factors that influence an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The speaker's research into the psychological variables that drive vocational satisfaction for educators is a key part of the narrative, aiming to understand what motivates and sustains teachers in their profession.

💡Identity

Identity refers to the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. The speaker's journey involves a significant shift in identity, from being a troubled youth to becoming a successful psychologist and educator, influenced by the belief and affirmation from teachers.

💡Adoption

Adoption is the legal process of taking someone else's child and raising them as one's own. The script shares a personal story of adoption, where the speaker and his wife adopt a girl named Lauren, illustrating the transformative power of love and family on an individual's life.

💡Self-medication

Self-medication is the act of treating one's own ailments or conditions without professional medical advice, often with substances like drugs or alcohol. The speaker mentions using street drugs to self-medicate his undiagnosed depression, highlighting the struggles with mental health and the desperate measures some individuals take to cope.

💡Educational impact

Educational impact refers to the influence or effect that education has on an individual's life. The video emphasizes the long-lasting impact that educators can have, not only through academic instruction but also through personal affirmation and life guidance, as seen in the speaker's transformation and his adoption of Lauren.

💡Life-changing

The term 'life-changing' describes events or experiences that significantly alter the course of one's life. The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher was life-changing, leading to a new understanding of education and a shift in career direction, as well as the life-changing decision to adopt Lauren.

💡Vocational satisfaction

Vocational satisfaction is the sense of fulfillment and contentment one derives from their work or career. The speaker's research into what drives vocational satisfaction for educators is central to the video's exploration of why educators continue in their challenging profession and how they find meaning in their work.

Highlights

The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher was August 25th, 2008, which became a turning point in their career.

The initial attempt at behavior management by writing names on the board failed, leading to a realization of the complexity of classroom management.

A student's correction of the speaker's mistake about the class size highlighted the challenges faced during the first day.

The speaker's experience led to a deep admiration for educators and an understanding of the demanding nature of teaching.

The speaker's curiosity about teaching excellence and longevity in the profession prompted research into psychological variables affecting educators.

The importance of understanding 'why' in education was emphasized as a foundational element for success in teaching.

Case studies of 'Lou' and 'Lauren' were introduced to illustrate the impact of educators on students' lives.

Lou's transformation from a troubled youth to a licensed psychologist was attributed to the influence of his teachers.

The speaker's personal narrative as 'Lou' demonstrates the power of educators to change a student's trajectory.

The speaker's journey from a disadvantaged background to academic success was facilitated by the belief and support of his teachers.

The significance of educators' words and their life-changing impact on students was underscored through the speaker's story.

The adoption story of 'Lauren' highlights the potential for educators to recognize and act on the needs of at-risk students.

The speaker's commitment to his daughter Lauren reflects the selfless dedication educators should have towards their students.

The speaker's professional success and personal growth are a testament to the enduring influence of educators.

The speaker concludes by answering the question of identity and purpose, inspired by his experiences with educators.

The power of a teacher to write their own ticket and impact lives was a central theme of the speaker's narrative.

The speaker's story concludes with a heartfelt thank you to the educators who changed the course of his life.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

something happened to me on Monday

August 25th

2008 that was so significant for me it

literally changed the course of my

career that day was my first day ever as

a real live substitute teacher

now since I'm a licensed psychologist I

know the best way to heal from a

traumatic event is to talk about

it there's so much I could tell you

about what an absolute train wreck that

day was but let me give you some of the

low lights so my my method for behavior

management for for this classroom in

inner city third grade classroom was

that I was going to write their names on

the board you know surely that would put

the fear of God in them as if right so

10 minutes before lunch I'm trying to

make this big dramatic point to the kids

about how bad their behavior was and how

disappointed the teacher was going to be

and I said you know what it's really sad

I said in 10 minutes we're about to go

to lunch and let me just check so I

start counting names dot d dot d DT d d

I said 28 of you are going to be stuck

in here with me at recess this little

girl in the back of the classroom she

raised her hand sir there are only 22

kids in this classroom and it was just

stupid stuff like that all day long it

was a master's Workshop in how not to

lead a classroom so finally we get

through the the day the last bell rings

the kids are walking out and the sure

enough the last kid to leave the

classroom was the one that had been

riding me the hard artist all day long

his goal that day was to make me cry I

know it so just before he gets to the

door he stops and he turns and he looks

at me and he says hey Dr signs you're

pretty cool man are you going to be my

teacher again tomorrow dude I looked

that kid straight in the eye I said oh

sweet God I hope

not I got through the afternoon I went

home you know that that saying that a

picture is worth a thousand words a

couple days later I found this picture

and I said oh my gosh this picture

captures my first day as a substitute to

teacher I'm that

guy and this is that third grade class

just squatting the collective rear end

of their bad behavior on my skills you

can see who's coming out on top so what

I do as a psychologist in schools a big

part of what I do is I consult with

teachers so teachers that are teaching

uh children with academic and behavioral

issues I coached them and I started

thinking about I said you know what I do

all this time teaching teachers but I've

never taught in a classroom myself and

so I started substitute teaching because

I wanted just a taste of what it's like

to actually be in a classroom to see if

that in any way change what I believe

like the recommendations that I was

making or what I believe in theory or in

practice about how to intervene with

children and let me tell you something

the first light bulb that went off for

me after that very first day of

substitute teaching was this hey Adam

guess what big guy it doesn't matter how

many degrees you have it doesn't matter

where you got them from it doesn't

matter what you think you know about

education unless you've actually taught

in a classroom day in day out and done

the work there is no way you will ever

ever understand how incredibly demanding

and challenging that vocation is and it

was a huge moment of insight for me and

what happened was I was overwhelmed with

this sense of admiration for educators

for men and women across the country

that are in classrooms everywhere just

flat out getting it done do an amazing

job overwhelmed at at at how incredible

that is and then what happen happened

was that feeling of being overwhelmed it

sort of shifted into one of curiosity

and I got intensely curious about about

this thing I was wondering how do you

get good at that thing called teaching

number one and number two how do you get

good at it and stay good at it when data

showed that about half the teachers

teaching in schools now will be employed

in another profession in five years so

for those of us who work in education we

uh we go to so many conferences and

workshops about the how of Education the

where the what the when but I was

curious about the why the why of

Education because I know that whenever

we engage a significant task if we enter

it with the right why the what the where

the when the how that usually falls into

place so I started researching what are

the psychological variables that drive

vocational satisfaction for educators

and and the point that I want to share

uh the idea that I want to share today

is this when we in education when we

enter into that vocation from the right

why we posture ourselves and Poise

ourselves El to make the kind of Life

impacting relationships that have the

power to change the future so what I

want to do is I want to share a couple

of case studies with you and I think

these case studies will do more to

illustrate my point than me talking

through my research and through data so

the the boy on the left is a sixth grade

boy his name is Lou the girl on the

right is a fourth grade girl her name is

Lauren let's talk about Lou um sixth

grade boy Hispanic male low

socioeconomic home he's got a single

uninvolved parent history of treny

history of interaction with the legal

system he's got an undiagnosed

depression and he's using street drugs

to self-medicate now if you're a

classroom teacher and you have this kid

in your classroom this is the kid that

will make you sit out in the parking lot

on your campus and have an existential

crisis this is the kid that will make

you sit out in February when the snow's

piled that high and say do I really want

to walk the 200 yards into that building

because I didn't sleep well last night

but I guarantee you lose slept like a

baby and he's going to be loaded for

bear and ready for me and then you start

thinking you know they don't pay me

enough for this why am I doing this and

all that goes on and if you have this

kid in your classroom he will wear you

out and if you have this kid in your

classroom and he doesn't wear you out I

would say one of two things is true of

you either you're a superhero or you're

in just a little bit of denial that's

this kid well this kid actually is not

in sixth grade anymore of all things

this little stinker grew up and became a

licensed psychologist and that's what he

looks like

today I was that kid I was that kid let

me share my story with you the setting

is the early 1980s the location is the

Lower Rio Grand Valley the very southern

tip uh very close to the border of

Mexico 95% Hispanic and I remember I

remember the look on my mom's face the

first time she had to come to juvenile

to pick me up when I was arrested the

anger in her face and the first words

out of her mouth when she saw me was

what are you doing here what are you

doing here and that question it wasn't a

question of action what am I doing here

well I'm sitting in this chair with

these handcuffs digging into my wrist

wondering what the next 48 hours of my

life will look like that's not the

question she was asking it was a

question of identity and I remember

thinking what an absolutely stupid

question to ask me are you kidding me

what am I doing here I know who I am I'm

loose signs it's my job to make your

life hell I'm never going to learn I

can't make it through a single day what

am I doing here this is who I am this is

where I belong this is what I do well my

mom Child Protective Services was never

involved with my family but my mom could

read the writing on the wall

and she voluntarily relinquished

guardianship to me and I went to live

with this family several hundred miles

away and what was then this tiny rice

farming Town out in the sticks out in

the suburbs of Houston called Katie

Texas and I ended up doing pretty well

at Katie Junior High and Katie high

school but by my senior year I started

to get depressed again because the

family that I lived with they said son

we love you but but you're 18 and when

you graduate you're on your own and I

was terrified because I knew no no no no

no when you take all the structure away

from me I knew that I still had demons

on the inside and they were going to

come and get me well sure enough I

graduated from Katie high school and the

bottom fell out um I ended up in San

Antonio I was working as a dishwasher um

I met this guy he' let me sleep on the

living living room floor of his tiny

one-bedroom apartment my depression was

out of control I was using drugs again

to self-medicate street drugs and and I

wasn't suicidal but I remember thinking

like are you kidding me I'm 19 years old

I'm working as a dishwasher I'm using

drugs and I've got another 60 years of

this to look forward to what's the point

well I remember coming home from work

one morning it was about 3:00 a.m. very

early and I was really really depressed

and really really overwhelmed and so I

pulled out my journal I just needed to

get into my journal to write and as I

pulled out my journal in in my journal

box I saw these two letters and I

couldn't figure out what they were but

when I found them I was blown away at

what they were they were two letters

that had been written to me by two of my

teachers my senior year at KD high

school and this is part of what one of

those letters said you're extremely

talented and intelligent but most

importantly you have a good heart I know

you will use your talents to help your

fellow man and that's the most

satisfying life a person can have and it

was signed by my English teacher Joel

Exley it said some other things but

that's what jumped out put it away I

pulled out the second letter and this is

part of what that letter

said don't quit writing especially in

your Journal someday it may be the basis

for your book you have Insight

sensitivity intelligence and maturity

beyond your Tender Years keep being you

you're a special person and it was

signed by my creative writing teacher

paully

McRoberts and those words absolutely

haunted me they just haunted me because

I said wait a minute wait a minute wait

a minute I know who I am I know who I am

I'm loose signs I'm a 19-year-old

version of that sixth grade kid that's

never going to make it through a single

day whose job it is to make your life

hell who's never going to learn I'm

using drugs I'm depressed out of my mind

I'm working as a dishwasher I have no

future I know who I am but here were

these two women for whom I had

tremendous disrespect that were

disagreeing with me and because of who

they were and the kind of Life they

lived in front of us in the classroom I

couldn't just blow them off I couldn't

just say well you don't know what you're

talking about and because of their

character and their integrity I knew

they would not have written these words

to me if they didn't absolutely believe

it so back and forth I went back and

forth who's right about me who's right

about me so finally I said you know what

I need to put this Theory to the test I

need to figure out who I am I know what

I'm going to do I'm going to sign up for

a college course I had no idea how to do

that neither my parents went to college

but I went to the University of Texas at

San Antonio I was accepted the first

course I had to take was introduction to

English and I said oh thank God because

if I have any hope of passing a college

course it's got to be this English

course well at the end of the semester I

remember I got my grade and I passed it

couldn't believe it couldn't believe it

and so I started thinking you know what

maybe Mrs Roberts and Mrs Exley were

right about me maybe they could see

something in me that I couldn't see in

myself on the one hand on the other hand

maybe this was just a clerical error for

all I know should probably take another

course so I took another course that

spring and I passed it couldn't believe

it then I took a course that summer then

two then three and just kept going a

little at a time and then just before I

turned 27 years old I graduated with my

undergraduate degree in English never

never never thought I was going to get a

college degree I never did but there I

had it and then I started thinking you

know what they were right about me Mrs

McRoberts and Mrs Exley could see

something in me that I couldn't see in

myself and I said you know what I'm done

being Lou I'm done being that kid that's

never going to make it through a single

day whose job it is to make your life

heal who's never going to learn and then

just psychologically as a way to give

myself permission to be somebody else I

said I'm going to start going by my

first name now I'm going to be Adam and

maybe Adam can live into this life that

those two teachers saw in him so many

years ago well I started my master's

program and then I started my own

therapy to work through my own past my

own trauma and my own abuse finished my

masters and then I applied for a PhD in

school psychology at Texas A&M and then

the whole thing came full circle in uh

it was March of 2001 I remember I was

sitting in Logan Airport I was finishing

my internship at Boston Children's

Hospital under a fellowship appointment

to Harvard and I was scheduled to

graduate in May and I had applied for

post talks at Brown Yale in Columbia and

brown was my Top Choice so I'm sitting

in the airport at Logan waiting for my

flight I was going to fly back to

College Station to defend my

dissertation and my cell phone rang I

said hello this is Adam and then a voice

voice on the other end of the phone said

Adam hey this is Dr J ree at Brown

Medical School listen we got your

paperwork we we really enjoyed our

interview with you and I'm calling to

offer you a fellowship appointment here

at the medical school and I was just

thrilled I mean this was my top choice

right so as he's talking about the

research and the clinical work um I had

an incoming phone call and I didn't

recognize the number and I said I said

Dr R I said I'm so sorry to ask but do

you mind if I put you on hold I have a

call coming in I think I need to take it

no problem click over hello this is Adam

then a voice on the other end said Adam

hey this is Dr Chuck San at Yale Medical

School listen we got your paperwork we

really enjoyed our interview with you

and I'm calling to offer you a

fellowship appointment to to Yale I said

dude I got brown on the other line I'm

going to have to call you back

click took the position at Brown hung up

and then it hit me in that moment it hit

me I realized Adam you can write your

own ticket you are qualified to do what

you love to do which is practice

psychology at any Hospital any

University any uh School District in the

country and you're bilingual and I

realized in that moment I wouldn't have

those options if I didn't have a PhD in

Psychology and I never would have had

the courage to apply for a PhD if I

hadn't finished my Master's Degree and I

never could have applied for a master's

degree if I hadn't first finished my

undergraduate degree and you know what I

know that I know that I know that I know

that I never would have stepped out for

that first degree had Educators not

spoken truth into my life about who I am

and my identity and I'll tell you right

now I will be for ever grateful to Mrs

McRoberts and Mrs Exley for the moment

of impact they had in my life if you

ever happen to be in Katie Texas by the

way and you're driving down Wester

Parkway you're going to see that

building and that's Joel Exley

Elementary and if you ever happen to be

driving down Fran Road you're going to

see that building and that's pully

McRoberts Elementary and I am so proud

of KD ISD for honoring these two women

now let's go to my second uh case study

this was Lauren Garcia and when I look

at that picture of Lauren her smile

doesn't convince me um and when I think

about who she was at this time I think

what does she have to smile about she

had been in protective uh Services the

custody of protective services for two

years already in her young life she had

experienced Things That No human being

should ever have to experience let alone

a little girl and then we sit her down

in front of a camera and tell her to say

cheese well what's there to smile about

well what happens with children that are

in in Protective Services in custody

when they're 10 11 12 years old if they

haven't been adopted by that time

statistically speaking

the likelihood that they will ever be

adopted it drops dramatically well what

happened with Lauren was she ended up in

court but with her the circumstances

were a little bit different it wasn't

juvenile court it was an adoption court

because the family read her file and

they said we know exactly what we're

signing up for and in March of 2010

Lauren Garcia became Lauren signs and

that was the day that my wife and I

adopted her and there we are on our

adoption day with my biological children

and that was a very very special day in

our family that was on a Tuesday that

very next Saturday Lauren and I had our

very first daddy daughter dance and

there we are getting ready for the daddy

daughter dance and she was so cute I

remember I said all right sweet girl

you've got new shoes you've got a new

dress you're beautiful I said you know

what before the dance I'm going to take

you out to dinner anywhere you want to

go and man her little eyes just lit up

she said are you kidding me anywhere I

want to go said anywhere you want to go

I don't care you name it Stak

Seafood

Chick-fil-A so there we were at

Chick-fil-A in our Formal Wear waffle

fries and chicken sandwiches it was the

bomb so after dinner you know we ended

up at the dance and we were still

getting to know each other at that point

she'd only been with us for about uh six

months and I remember at the dance I

just wanted to make one point of

connection with her you know and so when

we got there and we settled in I

remember I reached over and I held her

hand and I took this little picture and

I said sweet girl there are two things

you need to understand about being my

girl and about being family I said the

first is this you do not make the rules

in our family mom and I make the rules

and your job is to follow them there's

not a question mark at the end of that

statement there's not a comma at the end

of that statement there is a period at

the end of that statement do you

understand me and she said yes sir I do

and I said very good here's the second

thing you need to know I said do you

know what my job is and she said yes sir

your job is to make sure that I follow

the rules and I smiled at her and I said

oh no no no sweet girl I said listen to

me my job is to lay my life down for you

my job is to protect you my job is to

provide for you my job is to guide you I

said sweetheart you don't understand

this about yourself yet but you are the

most precious thing on the planet there

is no pile of money anywhere on the

planet more valuable than you not even

in the same category and and my job is

to lay my life down for you so that you

will understand your value because when

you understand your value you will live

as though your choices matter you will

understand that just like me you have a

calling you have a purpose you have a

destiny you are on this planet for a

reason and then in a moment of

incredible Insight she looked at me and

she said dad I don't think I've ever

been loved that way before and I

remember I smiled at her and I said oh

sweet girl sweet girl believe it or not

I know exactly how you feel I said let

me tell you a story about a kid I used

to know his name was

Lou and I shared my story with her and

it was a powerful powerful moment our

relationship and the reason I share my

daughter as as a case study is just to

underscore the generational power that

Educators have in the classroom when

when we as Educators make that

connection with those students we change

every heartbeat they have to the grave

and when I think about the men and women

that poured into my life the Educators

like Mrs McRoberts and Mrs Exley that

poured into my life when quite frankly I

was not the best version of myself how

do I look at a little girl like this and

not bring her into my life that is the

power of an educator that is the power

of a teacher so let me conclude with

this I'm going to answer that question

that my mom asked me when I was in

juvenile sitting in handcuffs what are

you doing here what am I doing here you

know what by God's grace I know who I am

today my name is Dr Adam Lewis signs and

I'm here on this stage today because my

life was impacted by the power of a

teacher thank you