NICHOLAS FERRONI

AWARD-WINNING EDUCATOR & ACTIVIST

NICHOLAS FERRONI

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATOR & ACTIVIST

Nicholas Ferroni is a revered high school teacher who mentors his extremely diverse students with deep personal commitment and care. Nick teaches History and Cultural Studies in his hometown, and helped found his school’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance” and The Feminist Club.

Nick was named one of the "100 Making a Difference" for his commitment to education reform and has developed the “Teach the Truth” campaign to incorporate more minority figures in social studies curriculum as well as including the history of the Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights movement. He was recently named the "Upstander of the Year" by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) for his outspoken advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth. Nick has received national attention by numerous educators and publications for his unique and innovative methodology in successfully reaching contemporary and urban students. Nick’s most recent honor was being named a “Champion of Change” by a branch of the United Nations Women.

Nick is currently developing a series with the production company Soulpancake to celebrate and honor amazing teachers. Recently Nick appeared on The View, TODAY Show, ABC News and was featured in numerous publications for a Social Experiment he did with his students that went viral. Whoopi Goldberg called it “The best social experiment ever.”

Nick continues to be one of the leading and most outspoken voices in education, not only is he celebrating all that educators do, but why we must focus on the mental health and emotional stability of our youth, and celebrate their creativity and passions, if we would like to build a generation of successful, stable and happy people.

 PROGRAM OPTIONS

 

VIRTUAL

30 - 60 minute Keynote or Half-Day

IN-PERSON

Keynote and Half-Day Options

MINI GET YOUR TEACH ON EXPERIENCE

Bring the energy from the iconic GYTO Conferences to your District or School! These combine multiple keynotes and workshops from Hope and Wade, and can include additional GYTO presenters!

SPEECH TOPICS

 

Passion and Compassion Before Knowledge

PD Type: Keynote or Workshop
Designed Length: 60-90 minutes
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience: Teachers, Administrators

Charlie Chaplin once said, "Kindness is much more important than cleverness." Knowledge is valuable, but compassion in many cases is far more valuable, especially in the classroom or in the office. I have found that the most effective educators are not the ones that know the most, but who care the most. This always applies to the business world. How can we expect students and employees to care about their grades or their work if they believe that their teachers and bosses don't care about them? And we rarely truly understand something or learn something until we experience it directly.

Unconventional Strategies to Engage All Students

PD Type: Keynote or Workshop
Designed Length: 60-90 minutes
Platform: Virtual or In-Person
Target Audience:  Teachers, Administrators

With smart technology we tend to have dumb people. Creativity is going extinct in many cases. We must nurture creativity in all arenas or we will lose our ability to think and to think differently. As a teacher, I do everything I can to nurture my students creativity and to get them to think not about what is, but what can be. Employers should focusing on the same thing: nurturing their employees creativity to see further and differently than anyone has before.

 

TESTIMONIALS

 

“I had the good fortune of hearing Nick speak in New Jersey. What an incredible experience it was. I walked away thinking this guy gets it. Nick's powerful words, relevant examples, and heart warming stories inspired me and gave me hope that teachers everywhere are still the change our kids deserve.”

- JIMMY CASAS
SENIOR FELLOW, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP

 

“We had an AMAZING day with Nick yesterday. He truly delivered outstanding presentations which included topics that matched the needs of our district. Throughout the afternoon, staff approached me to say how much his words inspired them. Thank you so much for working with us to bring Nick into our educational community. I hope to work with you again in the future.”

— PAULA BECK
NELSON SCHOL

“Our day with Nick went perfectly. Our staff loved him and walked away feeling motivated and energized. He was outstanding.”

— SCOTT CLAY
SUPERINTENDENT, EAST MAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 63

 

“It was the kick off that all of us needed to have a great beginning of school. I 100% would recommend Nicholas Ferroni to any group or district that wants to hear a powerful message about building student relationships. I heard a retired teacher who got back into the professional tell Nick "This is the best presentation I have heard in all my years of teaching" 35+ years and it was the best. Nic's message is so vital today. It doesn't matter what we know until the kids know we care.”

— JASON MIDKIFF
SUPERINTENDENT, PURCELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“Mr. Ferroni provided both the motivation and inspiration needed power through the toughest of days in the life of an educator. This motivation came from making connections with students and integrating innovative instructional strategies that go beyond pedagogy and get to the heart of teaching. As a faculty, we are newly invigorated and ready to accept both challenges and triumphs.”

— LAUREN GUNTHER
CURRICULUM DIRECTOR, OCEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

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 MORE FROM NICK

 

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SEE NICK AT A CONFERENCE