Fifteen years ago, Alex Kajitani was a struggling new teacher in one of California's poorest neighborhoods. His students were unmotivated, unengaged, and uninterested in what he was teaching. Demoralized and desperate, he set out on a journey to turn his class, and his life around.
Today, Alex holds the title of California Teacher of the Year and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year, 2009, and is lauded for his innovation and "real talk" as an educator. He journey-- from frustrated new teacher to being honored at The White House-- is one he now shares with educators across the country, to inspire them to new heights and fresh ways of thinking about the students they serve and the subjects they teach. Alex tells refreshingly honest stories of what it truly takes to succeed as a teacher today, and interweaves them with real, easy-to-implement teaching strategies, which can be used the very next day, to create the world as it can be.
Partial funding for this event was provided by The ESC 17 Family Involvement in Schools Project ($300,000) (90%) DD funds; $33,333) (10%) non-federal resources ~ TEXAS COUNCIL for DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES & Region 17 Migrant Shared