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Comments Keynote Addresses by John Perricone |
John, |
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| "John
Perricone was the most highly rated keynote speaker ever in our school
district. His message of compassion, reflection and appreciation of our
profession was exactly what we needed at this trying time in the history
of education. Thank you, John !."
John Lysko, Superintendent of Ocean Township Schools, Oakhust New Jersey |
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| Dear
John, This
is a compilation of comments forwarded to me from teachers at the 9th Annual Educators' Conference,
in Cortland, New York on March 13, 2010 Bonnie Calzolaio, Director of the Cortland County Teacher Center, 607-753-8508 Enthusiastic, funny, thoughtful, motivating; GREAT, GREAT, GREAT—John should visit all of our schools during these economically difficult times to build up our spirits & affirm us all!; wonderful—uplifting!; highly inspirational!; inspirational; fantastic! Kept all my attention for the whole time; inspiring, funny, excellent; loved him, could have listened to him all day; absolutely FABULOUS! Thought-provoking!; very energetic, absolutely fantastic job!; amazing and entertaining!; liked hearing from both speakers; best speaker I’ve heard!; would like to see at staff development; so interesting—informative!; very good—would like to see him come to schools; WOW—have him back!; thought-provoking—dynamic; awesome! inspiring, humorous, real; best ever anywhere is 16 years!; WOW!; amazing, inspiring—feel lucky to have heard him; very energizing and engaging; Homer needs him at staff development!; wonderful & inspiring; John is a great speaker!; very inspiring & motivational; inspiring! |
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| Mr. Perricone was the closing keynote speaker for our annual UACTE (Utah Association for Career and Technical Education) conference.
He was absolutely inspiring! What a great motivator of people! He captivated the audience with his stories and reminded us why we became teachers in the first place. The audience reflected on their role in the lives of the children they teach each day and that we hold one of the most meaningful and profound careers in this world. He is an inspiration for all of us. Ann Decker, President Utah Association for Career and Technical Education |
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| John, The staff, overwhelmingly, has responded to your presentation [Sept. 2, 2009] as being inspirational. I found your keynote timely and just what we needed as I begin my tenure as the new Superintendent of the Naples Central School District. You are welcome to quote me and have people contact me. Have a great start to a new year. Sincerely, Kimberle Ward, Superintendent Naples Central School District |
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| Dear John: I'm attaching below the comments from our Aug. 18, 2009 breakfast to the question about what our teachers will remember most from your presentation. You can see that you did indeed impress everyone, as well as make an indelible mark on their memories!!! Please enjoy reading the comments…I sure did!!! (I don't think I've ever received so many positive feedback thoughts from any opening day speaker in my life!!!) Thanks again for the great job you did for us! Linda Schielke, Ed.D. lschielke@sd13.org (630)893-9590 What were the ideas that will stay with you from John Perricone's breakfast presentation on Tuesday? (these are just a few) What a meaningful reminder of how important the calling of a teacher truly is! Teaching each day like it's your first and your last one. That one's philosophy of life is intimately tied to one's identity, and it carries through to everything we do. Take only what you need in life, and give of yourself to others. This is what brings happiness and fulfillment. Serving others and making a difference in the lives of others brings true joy. We teach who we are. What it really means to be a teacher. Sometimes the littlest things have the biggest impact. "Everything can be taken from us except one thing- the freedom to choose our attitude in any set of circumstances." I already used this quote with my students when creating the classroom rules. I also felt the John's presentation set a positive tone or framework to begin the new school year. He was awesome! Contribute to the quality of another person's life! Great speaker to start off the year! John was very inspiring and reminded me of why I began this journey in education and helped to focus my future direction. The idea that everyday is a fresh start and deserves as much passion as the first time a teacher stepped into a classroom. Students deserve the best from a teacher and it is our job to do that. John was such an inspiring presenter! I will always remember that we as teachers help inspire individuals, and that everyday should be another beginning. I always am a person that takes things personally and I linger on the past a lot. This year I am not going to allow myself to linger on the past and remind myself that everyday is a new beginning. I think this will allow me to be a better teacher as well as a more well rounded person. I will try to focus on the positive aspects of the job, and to try to treat every day of teaching as a gift. Teaching is the most rewarding career Strive to earn respect from your students, not fear. A sense of humor is vital in and out of the classroom!! To start everyday like its a new day or a lesson like its the first time you taught. Keep the passion and energy throughout the day. I so enjoyed John's presentation. Wish I had his speaking and delivery talents. Great mixture of thought provoking information and insightful humor. John helped reaffirm that teaching is a profession that has far reaching effects on the lives of our students. A combination of professional development and application along with compassion are the markers for success as a "good" teacher. I really appreciated receiving John's book. Realizing our limited time on earth to make a difference. Being passionate and in love with what I do From his book, setting extremely high expectations for students Attitude is EVERYTHING. Even I need a reminder once in awhile. I hope some people who are grumpy walking down the hallways figured out it was them Mr. Perricone was talking about. If we all changed our attitude things would turn out better. The other staff would respond better! Everyone is a role model, for better or for worse. Today is my first day, and could be my last. Live it with passion! I found his presentation to be very uplifting. His passion is contagious. He also gave me some good points to think about for the first day of school. It is important to earn the respect of your students instead of demanding it, which he made clear won't work. I felt that this was a very good point and that teachers need to be able to decipher between fear and respect. LOVE what you do! The concept of "SHO-SHIN!" will forever be embedded in my mind. Teaching is about looking through the eyes of a student when opening the door of education. It's about teaching every single lesson with enthusiasm as if it was your first time standing in front of the class, while at the same time as if it was your last. I strongly believe in the philosophies Mr. Perricone so passionately expressed about being an educator. My only complaint is that his presentation had to come to an end. |
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Thanks John! You were terrific! I was approached by several teachers that wanted to thank me for bringing you to our first day institute. Your message was very powerful. Thank you so much! I am the Three Rivers IASA (Illinois Association of School Administrators) Membership Chair. I forwarded your email to 50 other Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents in our region. Best wishes! Al Gegenheimer, Superintendent Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201, agegenheimer@min201.org P.S. Below is just one of the many comments I received from teachers which I believed captured the essence of so many of their sentiments. Dear Al: "Thank you for providing the staff with a truly excellent and outstanding opening day presentation by John Perricone. The presentation was extremely motivational and so very well articulated. We've begun a new school year with many opportunities and challenges. John Perricone's creative ideas and thoughts complimented the goals and vision that we in Minooka School District 201 strive for each and every day ... high ideals, achievement, and a real passion for teaching. Thank you again for having him. Have a great weekend!" Kathy Caamano |
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| "John Perricone’s presentation to our entire staff created an experience that was so positive, purposeful, and personal. He reminded us of why we got into the field of education, of who we are, and of the impact we can have on the lives of our students. Our staff was energized and motivated by his powerful, humorous, and inspirational message. " Jamie Henderson, Superintendent, Rosedale Union School District, Bakersfield, California |
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"Each August we have a guest speaker address our entire district staff to share ideas and perspectives as we re-commit to the work for a new school year. We found John Perricone's approach to be unique and refreshing. He helped us see how our philosophy of life impacts our philosophy of educating youth and our work with them and with each other. John brought some profound revelations to us, sprinkled generously with humor and warmth. He's one of the few guest speakers we have had that staff continues to quote. His impact was that profound." Kim Perkins, Ed.D. Superintendent, DuPage Elementary School District 13, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 kperkins@sd13.org (630) 893-9590 |
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John,
We had a unique opportunity to have Mr. Perricone present to our faculty after a full day of teaching. He joked that it would probably be a challenge to not only keep teachers from going home, but engaged after a long day of working with students. For almost two hours, John enlightened, encouraged, and inspired the entire faculty. He immediately connected with his audience and his presentation flowed from story to story, point to point, and heart to heart. I don’t know that any of us knew what we were in for that afternoon, but in the end I learned that my faculty was hungry for what John had to share. Dr. Chip Koop, Principal, Lone Peak High School, Highland, Utah
Thanks for providing us with such a wonderful in-service experience
yesterday! Chris Hales, Special Education Teacher, Lone Peak High School |
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| The following reflections came totally
unsolicited to Dr. Marian Trapani of Phillipsburg Schools after Mr. Perricone's Keynote Address: "Just wanted you to know that John Perricone is getting RAVE reviews at Green Street." John Finken, Principal "The BEST! BEST! BEST! BEST! speaker I've ever seen and my staff keeps repeating the same." Judy Bonos, Early Childhood Center Principal "Marian, you hit a home run, and all the teachers are talking about him this morning." Bill Spencer, Principal "Dr. Trapani, thank you for having Mr. Perricone speak with our staff. He was by far the best motivational speaker that I have ever experienced. He was insightful, meaningful, and comedic at the same time. At this point in the year (April), he ignited the "spark" that some may feel has been burning out. Thank you so much for bringing him." Pam Irwin, Teacher at Phillipsburg High School |
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| "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 |
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| John, I just returned to my office following the luncheon we had for the Instructional Leadership nominees. No sooner had I sat down than I received a phone call from one of my colleagues thanking me for bringing you to Tarleton. She was extremely complimentary of your presentation and said that she plans to read your book in its entirety tonight. Thank you, John, for your deeply inspiring message. We grow spiritually and psychologically when we probe deeply into ourselves to clarify the meaning and purpose in life. However, we sometimes need some provocation to accomplish this challenging task. Your presentation provoked us to do exactly that. I hope that you have had a smooth and safe journey home, and I look forward to staying in touch with you. Best wishes, Bill Larmar, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX |
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| [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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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