Willie Spears Addresses Wapakoneta City Schools Staff
WAPAKONETA- In a vibrant and inspiring kickoff to the new school year, Willie Spears, a critically acclaimed keynote speaker, author, evangelist, and award-winning educator, energized the staff of Wapakoneta City Schools with his dynamic presentation at the Wapakoneta High School Performing Arts Center on Wednesday.
Spears, founder of The Willie Spears Experience, captivated the audience with his unique blend of enthusiasm and wisdom, drawing from a wealth of personal experiences that span over two decades in education and entertainment. His presentation, which included motivational stories and practical advice, was met with resounding laughter from the educators in attendance.
As an accomplished coach and educator with a background that includes coaching at NCAA Division One and Two levels, and serving as an Athletic Director and Head Football Coach across seven high schools, Spears shared insights gained from his diverse career. His experiences, from working for Disney Cruise Line as a comedian to his extensive involvement in education, were woven into a narrative that underscored the significance of passion and perseverance in teaching.
Spears’ reputation as a sought-after speaker is well-deserved. His social media presence, highlighted by a viral video that has amassed over ten million views, along with his eighteen books and weekly editorials, reflects his commitment to empowering and inspiring others. His engaging style has made him a familiar face on major networks like CNN, FOX, HBO, and ESPN, and his influence extends to Fortune 500 companies, universities, and schools nationwide.
At the heart of Spears’ message was a call to recognize and embrace the profound impact educators have on their students' lives. “Curriculum is great, rigger is great, the pythagorean theorem is great, subject and verb is great, the periodic table is great, but the relationship that is built with students- that is going to last forever,” stated Spears. “Every classroom has a culture and environment and the teacher is in charge of that environment. Today we are going to remind them of the great job they are doing, and get them excited again for another year," adds Spears.
While believing that teachers have more of a profound impact on more people in one year than most in one lifetime, Spears’ presentation also reminded the educators that the impact they have on the students goes beyond the school walls and into the community to help it thrive and grow. Spears added by asking the teachers to look at their past as they shape their students' future. “I want them to remember the teachers that they had that reached them and just mimic that behavior. We often say students will mimic what you model and so they are teachers because they saw some teacher and they may have not even realized it, but that teacher produced and reproduced themselves. Real leadership is not production, it's reproduction. This morning, I will get to talk to a room full of teachers, who once had some great teachers. So, the goal is that they inspire to be what they once had.”
Staff members at Wapakoneta City Schools will look to put their professional development into play when they welcome students back for the first day of school on August 20th.