CHRIS POMBONYO
AWARD-WINNING EDUCATOR & ADMINISTRATOR
CHRIS POMBONYO
FORMER RADIO DISNEY HOST, EDUCATION INFLUENCER
Originally from Long Island, New York, Chris is an award-winning educator, administrator, and professional speaker and host with a passion for education. He is a double graduate of the University of Central Florida with degrees in Elementary Education (B.S) and Educational Leadership (M.Ed) and has served as a highly effective teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in both Orlando, FL and Harlem, NY.
A former employee of the Walt Disney Company and lead host for Radio Disney in both the New York City and Orlando markets, Chris has years of experience captivating audiences, families, and clients with his high energy and enthusiasm and has since found a way to bring that same experience and “magic” into schools and classrooms throughout the country. Because of this, Chris was honored with Macy’s Magic of Teaching: Magic of Innovation Award, awarded the Elementary School Teacher of the Year and overall District Teacher of the Year for his district, named one of UCF’s Top 30 Under 30, and had the opportunity to ring the closing bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market closing bell in New York City.
Chris continues to spread his passion for education and knowledge by working with districts, teachers, students, and universities throughout the country as a professional speaker, consultant, and coach. He uses his high energy and enthusiasm to capture audiences of all ages and breaks down how to get the best results in schools and classrooms. In addition, he has hosted hundreds of in-school pep rallies and events for students, and serves as lead host and presenter for the national Get Your Teach On Conference, GYTO Rock Your School Pep-Rallies, and is the host of the conference’s online "GYTO LIVE!" broadcast series. Chris has been featured in the Orlando Sentinel, on the cover of Lake Mary Life Magazine, on numerous national podcasts, and local TV network features in Central Florida and New York City.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
VIRTUAL
30 - 60 minute Keynote or Half-Day
IN-PERSON
Keynote, Half-Day, & Full-Day Options
CONSULTING
Live On-Demand Consulting
Contact Us to learn how!
SPEECH TOPICS
Becoming a 5-Star Educator (Session Only)
PD Type: Keynote or Half-Day
Designed Length: 60 minutes - 3 hours
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers Grade K-8, Instructional Coaches, Leadership Teams, District Teams, Pre-Service Teachers at the University Level
Put the spotlight on the quality of teaching and learning in your classrooms to keep students “loving the show” with this unique one-of-a-kind presentation. Chris will take educators and leaders on a journey “backstage” to guide them through high-impact strategies and conditions for 5-Star Student and Teacher Success. Through various “scenes” including Classroom and Behavior Management, Student Engagement, Instruction and Planning, Classroom Environment, and more, this session will give your teachers a campus-wide plan and the tools needed to improve your school culture, behaviors, instruction, and student learning while creating a cast of “5-Star Educators.”
Becoming a 5-Star Educator Consultation Act 1
Focused Classroom Walkthroughs used to Gain Data
PD Type: Instructional Rounds + Consultation
Designed Length: Part 1 & 2 Required - Full -Day to Multi-Day
Platform: In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers, Administrators (school and district level), Staff
Chris will collaborate with your school’s leadership and coaching team to lead them on “5-Star” walkthroughs of classrooms throughout your campus. Using a custom designated rubric of “5-Star Indicators,” Chris and your designated team will collect and discuss school-wide data on various focus areas including Classroom and Behavior Management, Student Engagement, Classroom Environment, Instruction and Planning, and more. Chris will then use this data to customize your schoolwide “Becoming a 5-Star Educator” professional development session based on your school’s overall needs from that day’s walkthroughs. No two schools will have the same experience based on the custom and on-the-spot data-based coaching to meet your campus’s needs.
Becoming a 5-Star Educator Consultation Act 2
Custom Real-Time Session from Act 1 data-based needs
PD Type: Customized Session based on Act 1
Designed Length: Part 1 & 2 Required - Full -Day to Multi-Day
Platform: In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers, Administrators (school and district level), Staff
Chris will meet with your entire staff to go through school-wide walkthrough data and indicators and use that information to lead and engage teachers and leaders through your school’s custom “5-Star Educator” Experience and professional development. (See full session description above)
This session is designed as a follow-up to “Becoming a 5-Star Educator Consultation Act 1” only.
OFF-BOOK!
PD Type: Keynote
Designed Length: 60-90 minutes
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers Grades K-12, Instructional Coaches, Leadership Teams, District Teams, Pre-Service Teachers at the University Level
Join Chris for this motivational session as he pulls back the curtain and shares an inspirational message for educators on finding your passion within the profession and guiding you on increasing your impact to help all students take the spotlight and shine center stage. Filled with personal experiences and stories as well as impactful strategies and techniques, educators will leave energized, refreshed, and encouraged to continue making their impact.
Accelerate Student Learning: Strategies to Make Data Analysis & Progress Monitoring Meaningful
PD Type: Available as Half Day Session or Full Day PLC Sessions by Grade Level + After School PD Session
Designed Length: 60min - Full Day
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers (Grades K-8), Instructional Coaches, ESE Support Staff, Districtwide Assessment Teams, MTSS Teams, Administrators and Leadership Teams
Ready to take your students learning to new heights? Join Chris as he shares best practices to make data collection, analysis, and progress monitoring meaningful and engaging for both teachers AND students. Learn powerful strategies and techniques to make effective instructional decisions and help students own their learning and make the growth you’re looking for. It’s time to accelerate your instruction!
5-Star Student Pep Rally
PD Type: Assembly
Designed Length: 30-50 minutes
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Students Grades K-5, Instructional Coaches, Leadership Teams, District Teams, Pre-Service Teachers at the University Level
This high energy, interactive, student focused-pep rally and student development session will engage young learners in leadership skills necessary to make their biggest impact as a “5-Star Student.” Using his Radio Disney, hosting background, Chris will amp up your scholars for a pep rally full of interactive student learning, reflection, development, celebration, and maybe even some dancing.
5-Star Planning: Creating 5-Star Lessons to Increase Rigor and Engagement
PD Type: Follow-Up Workshop from 5-Star Educators
Designed Length: 60 - 90 minutes
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Teacher’s Grade K-8, Instructional Coaches, Leadership Teams, District Teams, Pre-Service Teachers at the University Level
Get ready to create meaningful, standards-based, lessons and experiences with your students that will be both rigorous and engaging through this high-energy and interactive guided planning workshop. Chris will walk teachers and staff through different "scenes" of planning engaging lessons to ensure that each lesson captivates student’s attention and increases student achievement leading to a classroom "Box Office Hit!" Attendees will leave with engagement strategies, tools, and techniques, for developing rigorous and engaging lessons and a plan to create a standards-based experience and lesson with their students.
GYTO's Instructional Playbook with Amelia Capotosta & Chris Pombonyo
PD Type: Joint Workshop (or with Chris only)
Designed Length: 60 - 90 minutes
Platform: In-Person
Target Audience: Teacher’s Grade K-12, Instructional Coaches, Leadership Teams, District Teams, and Pre-Service Teachers.
Teaching does have to feel like you are on an island with no support— when we work together to build engaging + hands-on lessons, the true winning begins!! Join Chris and Amelia as they referee the game of teaching and help you write the best teaching playbook to maximize student engagement and academic results! You and your team will work together from the time the clock starts until the buzzer sounds... let’s plan, play, and engage...the GYTO way!
TESTIMONIALS
“I could not have asked for a better way to start our year off at Dunedin Elementary. Chris came to Dunedin on the staff’s first day back. His positivity, specific teaching suggestions of how to make teaching exciting and his enthusiasm gave us tools to make our year successful! Thank you Chris!”
- KERRY WYATT
PRINCIPAL, TAMPA BAY, FL
“Wow! I have taught for 20 years and have never been more inspired and motivated to look at data as I am after Chris’ workshop. I absolutely LOVED Chris’ session! His words really spoke to me and I am so grateful for the strategies, ideas, and the challenge to look more carefully at accelerating all students. I was blown away by his knowledge and experience with progress monitoring. Excellently done!”
— SESSION ATTENDEE
TEACHER, DALLAS, TX
“There are few people who bring as much excitement and energy as Chris! Not only did my staff love his professional development but they kept asking me when he could come back. He is personable and real with experience anyone can relate to. I can’t highly recommend him enough.”
— TODD NESLONEY
DIRECTOR OF CULTURE AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, TEPSA
“Chris Pombonyo is an inspiring educator whose talent lifts the lives of those around him. As a speaker, Chris is passionate and dynamic, yet also honest and vulnerable, which makes him relatable and encouraging to his audience. He has been a recurring guest speaker in our teacher preparation program because he energizes our future teachers like no other. Our students will show up anytime and anywhere to learn from Chris!”
— DR. TAYLAR WENZEL
ASSOCATE PROFESSOR, UNIV. OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
“I wish I could pack Chris up and take him back with me to school for all our teachers to see. He was INCREDIBLE! I didn’t want his session to end. He was very engaging, humble, and extremely informative. I have gotten so much motivation from his presentation and I am excited for the next steps. Would love to have him come present at my school/district.”
— SESSION ATTENDEE
TEACHER, LAS VEGAS, NV
CHECK AVAILABILITY
Thank you for your interest in booking a private professional development experience! Please fill out our Booking Inquiry form and a member of our team will contact you soon.
