Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching by John Perricone

The following are comments mailed in about the book

Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching

and

about Mr. Perricone's Speaking Engagements

[Dear Robin:] Thank you for bringing John Perricone to us today… your philosophy is very evident by the actions you take for your teaching staff… I was very moved… thank you…You’ve heard the old saying that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Not true. Words hurt terribly. But words can also heal, and inspire, and encourage, and lift the spirit. Mr. Perricone’s words did all those things and more. I left his presentation inspired, encouraged, and with my spirit lifted. He said that he was a “truth-seeker.” Mr. Perricone spoke truth, and truth sets you free. Thank you, Mr. Perricone, for your words. You epitomize what it means to truly be a teacher.
Dale Fillmore, Ephrata School District

I just wanted to thank you for bringing in Mr. Perricone. He certainly had more than a positive impact on me…and apparently, on everyone else I’ve talked to. I emailed Mr. Perricone before I left yesterday, and had a response from him waiting for me first thing this morning. I don’t know if finding speakers who deliver this kind of message is relatively easy or not…but I’m certain that finding someone who, along with presenting his beliefs, authentically lives them is almost an impossibility. Thank you for allowing us this rare opportunity to experience someone who achieves both.
Mike Davidson, Ephrata School District

I have already shared quotes and knowledge from John Perricone’s presentation with my students, friends and family. I think John’s lecture was probably one of the most inspiring and useful that I have ever heard. There were nuggets of information for everyone, no matter what their station in life. His messages were compelling and gratifying. It was such a pleasure to be learning! I can’t imagine that anyone could come away from John Perricone’s workshop and not be enriched and excited and upheld. Thank you for a truly beneficial staff development!
Donna Fogle, Ephrata School District

“What a super way to energize your teaching spirit!” John’s philosophical, witty, and insightful presentation should be heard by anyone that is thinking about becoming a teacher, anyone who has taught for a few years, and anyone who has fulfilled many years in the noble profession of teaching. Mr. Perricone’s soulful, inspiring stories should light a spark for any educator whose candle is almost extinguished!
Jill Klinger, Ephrata Middle School music teacher/choral director

Dear Mr. Perricone:

I want to take this opportunity to thank you again for your inspirational message yesterday. You helped motivate many educators in the audience, myself included. We continue to receive emails thanking us for inviting you to present.

Please know that you have made friends in the Ephrata Area School District … and that I will personally be spreading the word to administrators in neighboring school districts.

Blessings as you continue to share your message in schools across the nation !

Best,
Dr. Robin Felty
Ephrata Area School District

Mr. Perricone,
I wanted to write and tell you how much I took from your presentation yesterday at Ephrata School District. You made me renew why I come to work and spend time with my students each day. You put into words and humor what we go through each day and you validated our jobs. I thank you for taking your time to speak with our staff and renewing us in this demanding profession. I feel you are such an incredible icon for teachers and I hope you continue to spread your wonderful message to others around the country.
Thank you,
Lori Long
Second Grade, Highland Elementary School
Ephrata Area School District

John,
Wow! You made me look good. Sometimes, we struggle under the weight of (this year alone) [three] initiatives that affect so many of our teachers each day. We pile on more and more work and never remind them of why they are here and how much we appreciate them. We also fail to let them know that we all struggle and yet we return everyday to do it again, searching for that one student whose life we can change. The emails regarding your presentation have been coming in non-stop. They each thanked me for giving them this moment. Thank you for a much needed respite from the onslaught of excessive demands, unfunded mandates, and thankless days.

I hope your time in Ephrata was as well-received and that you have a safe trip back to New York. Thank you so very much. I will be in touch

Carol Johnson
Principal, Central Dauphin High School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

"Listening to John was the best inservice program experience I have had in twenty years. His passion about teaching is amazing……….."

"I loved his presentation style. He exudes good humor, sensitivity, grace, and passion………."

Teachers from Deerlodge Schools, Deerlodge, Montana
September 2, 2008

"Thank you so very much for coming to East Helena. You are truly an inspiring man! Your thoughtful kindness and respect for your fellow man is so poignantly portrayed in your inspiring words. Though I was only able to know you for a short time I felt as if you were speaking to my soul and my beliefs as an educator when you shared your time with us. My wife, as well as my principals and their wives were taken with your kindness. I would surely hope that we will be able to have you back to the school district again very soon to continue your teaching with us.

All my best to you on your first day back to school this coming week. I had so many positive comments about your presentation from my teachers. You said it so well well when you said that we share a friendship that indeed was mutually felt from the first contacts. Again, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and most of all for your enlightening perspective on humanity. You have inspired me to extend myself and seek greater enlightenment."

Ron Whitmoyer
Superintendent, East Helena Public Schools
August 28, 2008

“John’s presentation was fun, fast paced and meaningful; a perfect way for staff to begin a new year. We were reminded that we are all teachers of students regardless of our positions or titles.”

Ron Cagle, Assistant Superintendent, Hickory Public Schools,
Hickory North Carolina
August 21, 2008

John, I wanted to say thank you! Thank you for your inspiring words, thank you for your willingness to work with me throughout this entire process, thank you for connecting with our faculty/staff to re-ignite their passion….I want to say thank you. Yesterday was a true success; the faculty expressed such a positive response to your presentation and our break-out sessions have really provided us with great feedback. Over the past year or two the morale in our school has diminished which saddened me, but now I feel uplifted to know that together we are taking steps in the right direction. Again with great appreciation I am thankful for your visit. Fondly,

Lynn Muir

Assistant Principal Westfield High School 908-789-4510
March 5, 2008

Thank you so much for coming to speak to our staff. Your message was inspiring and was exactly what we needed to hear as we returned to school and prepared for another year. A number of my staff members came up to me after you had completed your talk to thank me for having you come. You brought our staff together this fall after a contentious spring and you reminded us all about why we are here. Keep up the great work and thanks you also for having your book available. We refer to it and it has reminded us over and over again to remember the joy of teaching.

Tracy Vandeventer, Salt Lake City, Utah
November 20, 2007

"I've been in education for 35 years and Mr. Perricone's Staff Development address was the best that I have ever seen. My teachers and I were in awe of his message. Teachers and administrators are craving this dialogue."

Larry Harrison, Principal, Tooele High School, Utah
November 10, 2006

“Mr. John Perricone helped re-energize our staff mid-year. John’s gentle personality put everyone he encountered at ease because he is very approachable and down to earth. His message was inspirational, yet not too heavy. John held our audience captive with the humor he interjected into the substance of his presentation. He caused all our staff to reflect about their personal educational career, no matter what position they hold. Teachers reported taking Mr. Perricone’s quotes back to their classroom and they are acquiring books he referenced. I highly recommend John Perricone as a motivational speaker for educators.”

Dr. Elaine M. Brown, Superintendent, South Allegheny School District
McKeesport , PA 15133

Dear Mr. Perricone,

"My name is Debbie Haefele and I am the principal of Livonia Intermediate School in Livonia, N.Y. Your book, Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching, was recently given to me as a birthday gift. I was thrilled with its message (exactly what I want my teachers to hear) and its potential springboard effect for teacher dialogue. My intent is to present each of my teachers with a copy for their summer reading that will allow them to more deeply reflect upon their role and just how valued they are. Would you let me know how I can order multiple copies of your book toward this end?"

Debbie Haefele, Principal, Livonia Intermediate School, Livonia, New York

As a college professor, I was deeply and profoundly moved by this book. All of my education students will be reading it in the Fall.

Dr. Scott Robinson, Professor of Science Education, SUNY Brockport

"I am strongly recommending your book to all of my principals and assistant superintendents."

Dr. Ronald Brown, Berkeley County Schools, Martinsburg WV

Mr. Perricone,
Thank you so much for this e-mail. Your book and your philosophy appear to be directly in line with the way I teach my students, who are special education teachers in training. I'll purchase your book and will use it with all levels of my students. Congratulations to you on a dream fulfilled!

Linda Polter, Assistant Professor, Special Education Department

"I want you to know that as the mentor coordinator for a school district of 24,000 children, I receive a lot of literature intended to inspire teachers, and no book to date has touched my heart and mind the way your book did. As I sit here at my desk on a pretty Colorado Sunday I do so with a happy heart because I now have a new tool in my toolbox as I work hard to support the amazing teachers of the Poudre School District. I now have the thoughts, the wisdom, and the passion of John Perricone to share with the next generation of teachers. Thank you for being such a wonderful steward of education and for caring so deeply for teachers and the children whose lives they shape."

Mary Hasl, Mentor Coordinator, Poudre School District, Fort Collins Colorado

"I am so glad that I did not delete Mr. Perricone's email. We invited him to our school to speak on Aug 25th and our entire faculty echoed the same sentiment of "That was the best staff development speaker we have ever had. He renewed us as teachers." We were so moved by his passion and his message on the art of teaching that we ordered a copy of his book for every member of our staff. There is no question that we will have him back next year. His message is a gift to the field of education."

Dr. Bille Rondinelli, Staff Development, Moon School District, Pittsburgh PA

Dear Mr. Perricone,

My name is Anna Tamborra and I work as a school psychologist for two elementary schools in the Troy, NY area. My professional work club chose to read your book Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching. The group consists of elementary school teachers (grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5 and myself). We read the first half of your book and discussed it two weeks ago and will be meeting again tomorrow to discuss the rest of it. When I saw that you left your email I had to send you a note. Your book is incredibly inspirational. We have read other books, but none have grabbed my attention like yours. Do you do speaking engagements? I'd love to ask my administrators about having you come to our district. Thank you so much for this book. I look forward to talking with my colleagues tomorrow morning about their thoughts as they finished up the book and how we can use the information in our day to day lives. Thank you!

Sincerely, Anna Tamborra

John Perricone Opens a Door, February 7, 2006

In Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching John Perricone opens a door that every dedicated educator needs to walk through. With quick wit, and poignant examples John helps every educator to look inward in hopes of forming a philosophical identity. Reading John's book is like having coffee with a master teacher, who with kindness and compassion willingly shares the secrets of finding success and happiness as a career educator. As the mentor coordinator of a large school district, I interact with 200 new teachers every year, and it brings me great joy to share with them the wisdom of John Perricone. The beauty of John's book is that it not only inspires novice teachers to greatness, it also rekindles the long lost youthful enthusiasm once felt by veteran teachers. Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching is food for the teacher's soul. Treat yourself to 87 pages of magic.

Reviewer: Mary C. Hasl (Fort Collins, Colorado)

"You so far surpassed any expectations we had for our Keynote speaker. The teachers cannot stop talking about how deeply you affected them and said that they will be dialoguing about the ideas you presented for a long time to come. Thank you for making our Fiesta Conference such a successful one." (June 20, '06)

Rick Razo, Education Service Center, Region 19, El Paso, Texas

"I was a very popular district administrator after Monday’s keynote address, and that isn’t the case very often. I cannot thank you enough. You shared a powerful message that was exactly what I was hoping to hear for myself and the many district teachers. My superintendent gave me the two thumbs up sign and said "Thank you so much for bringing him." I think you are going to be a very busy man meeting the demand for your message. I too hope our paths cross again. The honor would be mine. I wish you and your beautiful family the best."

Ron Nielson, San Juan School District: Blanding Utah

My name is Ryan Graham and I teach 6th grade social studies in Kannapolis, NC. A former student of yours and very good friend of mine, John Bugaiski, allowed me to borrow your book this summer. I want to say thank you. It was very moving and has impacted me greatly. I wish I would have been able to read it seven years ago when I began teaching. It has made me really look forward to teaching this year and given me a completely different outlook on teaching and life in general. The past year or two I have thought about giving up on teaching. It's not that I didn't enjoy teaching, rather the financial insecurity of a beginning teacher. Your book however made me remember why I became a teacher in the first place. It is in teaching that
I have found the "pursuit of happiness."

So again, thank you for re-opening my eyes and helping me re-find the meaning in what we do. I don't know if you get hundreds of emails a day or maybe just a few, but I wanted to take a moment and let you know that not only have you touched the lives of many of your students I'm sure but also people like myself who have come in contact with your former students. I hope that in the future I will be fortunate enough to hear your speak or thank you in person.

Ryan Graham, 6th grade Social Studies, Kannapolis Intermediate School

Hello Mr. Perricone. I hope all is well with you. I just wanted to thank you again for letting me sit in on one of your classes and taking the time to talk
with me back in September. I thought you'd appreciate knowing that all of our first-year teachers in my district have begun reading your book. The central office administration asked me to lead the initial book talk about the first few chapters last week.

Within the first few minutes of talking with our new teachers, I could tell how positively and profoundly your words are affecting them. They are at that point in the school year when it's fight or flight, and I know that talking about the points brought out in your book is helping them through it. We really dwelled on how to look at each crisis as an opportunity, for growth as an educator, as well as development of self-concept. I just wanted you to know that your gift of a book is having an impact here in little Kannapolis, North Carolina. Thank you. John Bugaiski

John Perricone speaks with conviction and passion about the things that truly matter in education. Combining humor with touching stories, John demonstrates how his life as a teacher has taught him about life itself. In the process, he inspires us all to reconnect with our own call to teaching and to respond to that call with renewed zest. (Feb. 2007)

Katherine A. Rhoades, DeanCollege of Education and Human Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004

"Mr. Perricone, one teacher after another has approached me to say that yours was the best Staff Development presentation they have ever experienced. Thank you so much for gracing our school with your passion for teaching. You truly made a difference and you can be assured that I'll be spreading the word."

Matt Akin, Superintendent of Piedmont City School District, Alabama

John, our faculty and staff found your keynote presentation to kick-off our school year to be inspirational, insightful, and poignant. Your humor used throughout held total interest from beginning to end. You reminded us all how any connected teacher can provide so much more than any curriculum brings. I will share my enthusiasm for your work with my colleagues in South Jersey and you should expect to hear from them.

Bob Bumpus, Superintendent of Woodstown-PilesGrove School District
September 6, 2007

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LIST OF UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS