YOUTH SPEAKER FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS »
Bullying Stops Here
(Anti-Bullying Speaker for Lower or Upper Elementary)
So many kids throw the “bullying flag” without really understanding what bullying is (and what it isn’t). In Bullying Stops Here, Tom presents the topic in a way that kids can understand and can immediately apply to their lives. Using his own story he shows how giving bullies a negative reaction only adds fuel to the fire. And more importantly, he gives them practical steps for how to respond with respect, so students learn how to speak up for themselves and for others. When students discover the power of being an “upstander” they start to prevent bullying at their school. View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to understand the bullying definition from stopbullying.gov
- How to identify the four types of bullying
- How to speak up with respect (for themselves and for others)
- When to get help from a trusted adult
Creating a Culture of Character
(Character Speaker for Lower or Upper Elementary)
Positive school culture isn’t built by posters and t-shirts alone. Instead, it comes from the attitudes and actions of every person in the school. In this session Tom shows students how to “Be The Change” on their campus. When they see something that needs to change, that’s when they need to “be the change.” And that means taking positive action so everyone knows they matter at school. Using his personal life story Tom shows how character is built by the little choices we make every day and how making these positive choices is the key to Creating a Culture of Character. View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to make positive choices that lead to positive character
- How to identify bullying and how to respond with respect
- How to have positive self-esteem in any situation
- When to “Be The Change” at their school
YOUTH SPEAKER FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL »
Be The Change (Bullying Focus)
(Anti-Bullying Speaker for Middle School or High School)
Teens are tired of hearing the same old “Don’t Be a Bully” message, and that’s why this session has become Tom’s most requested speech – because it comes from a totally unexpected place. Tom takes students on a journey through his own life story showing how his reaction to bullying led to a victim mindset. Thankfully one teacher stepped in and helped him become “Victimproof.” Tom discovered how to stop giving bullies the negative attention they were looking for, and more importantly, how “emotional intelligence” can empower all of us to “Be The Change.” Students and educators alike have praised this program for being a fresh perspective on bullying prevention. View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to identify bullying and how to respond with respect
- How to break free from bullying and develop emotional intelligence
- How to have positive self-esteem in any situation
- When to “Be The Change” at their school
Cyberbullying Stops Here
(Cyberbullying Prevention Speaker for Middle School or High School)
Social Media Addiction and Cyberbullying are two of the most significant challenges students face today. How do teens know when they’re spending too much time online? And how should they respond to cyberbullying? In this interactive speech Tom challenges students to “hold the phone” and to stop and think before they respond on social media. Tom shares real life stories of “online-life” in a way that connects with students and makes them laugh. His presentation shows them when and how to speak up online, and it motivates them to “Be The Change!” View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to use Tom’s “Top 5 Tips for Social Media Success”
- How to stop and think before posting (or responding) online
- How to develop emotional intelligence and become “Victimproof”
- When and how to report cyberbullying to a trusted adult
Be The Change (Leadership Focus)
(Youth Speaker for Middle School or High School)
How can ordinary students turn into extraordinary leaders? In this leadership presentation Tom shows students how the painful experiences of life can be used as opportunities to grow in leadership. He takes them on a journey through his own life story including a counseling program he went to as a teen and how he learned to use self-discipline to overcome great adversity. Toward the end of the speech Tom shows a short video about the Freedom Riders, highlighting how they faced their fears and created a positive impact on American culture. Tom challenges teens to stop wandering through life and find a cause to serve that is “greater than self.” View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to use self-discipline to build positive character in their lives
- How to move from being a Wanderer and an Explorer, to a Follower and a Leader
- How to turn painful past experiences into opportunities for personal growth
- How to “Be The Change” on their campus
Be The Change (Character Focus)
(Motivational Speaker for Middle School or High School)
Positive school culture isn’t built by posters and t-shirts alone. Instead, it comes from the attitudes and actions of every person in the school. In this session Tom shows students how they can “Be The Change” on campus. When they see something that needs to change, that’s when they need to “be the change.” And that means taking positive action so everyone knows they matter at school. Using his personal life story, Tom shows how character is built by the small choices we make every day and how making these positive choices is the key to creating a culture of character. View Tom’s Press Pack »
Your Students Will Learn…
- How to make positive choices that lead to positive character
- How to use self-discipline to overcome great adversity
- How to have positive self-esteem in any situation
- How to “Be The Change” and create a culture of kindness at their school
BULLYING SPEAKER FOR PARENTS & TEACHERS »
Raising Bullyproof Kids
(Anti-Bullying Parent Program)
Raising emotionally healthy kids is one of the biggest challenges of parenthood, and it starts with a healthy home environment. In this presentation Tom unpacks “The Secret to Raising Bullyproof Kids.” As a father of four, Tom shows parents how to empower their children to break out of the bullying cycle. He goes on to show how anxiety from the family can accidentally transfer into our children and result in bullying and victimization at school. The challenge for parents is to deal with the normal stress of life in a healthy way and to remain the non-anxious presence amidst anxiety. View Tom’s Press Pack »
Parents Will Learn…
- How to identify bullying and the four types as defined by StopBullying.gov
- When to intervene and when to empower kids to speak up for themselves
- How to teach kids to be resilient in the face of adversity
- How to build a healthy, non-anxious home environment
Creating Bullyproof Schools
(Anti-Bullying Professional Development Teacher Training)
In this session Tom Thelen, author of Victimproof, unpacks the secret to helping students break out of the bullying cycle. As a student Tom was bullied, but thanks to one teacher he discovered how to become “Victimproof,” a concept rooted in resiliency and grit. Today Tom speaks internationally to educators showing how “bullying awareness policies” are not enough and advocating that schools must take a more proactive approach to social and emotional learning programs. Tom is the creator of the nationally recognized Victimproof Program, a Multi-tiered System of Support that helps prevent bullying and create a positive school climate.
Educators Will Learn…
- How to describe the National Bullying Definition from StopBullying.gov.
- How to define the 4 Types of Bullying in Schools.
- How to illustrate the new challenges of cyberbullying – The New Playground.
- How to identify the “victim mentality” and promote resiliency in students.
- How to write a 3-Step Action Plan for a Multi-tiered System of Supports.
Be The Change On Campus
(Anti-Bullying Speaker for College Students & Student Life Workers)
Many students enter college ill equipped for the challenges ahead. So how can they be prepared for the real world after college? In this presentation Tom shows students how the painful experiences of life can be used as opportunities to grow in leadership. He takes them on a journey through his own life story including a counseling program he went to as a student and how he learned to use self-discipline to overcome great adversity. Toward the end of the speech Tom shows a short video about the Freedom Riders, highlighting how they faced their fears and created a positive impact on American culture. Tom challenges students to stop wandering through life and find a cause to serve that is “greater than self”. View Tom’s Press Pack »
College Students Will Learn…
- How to turn painful past experiences into opportunities for personal growth
- How to use self-discipline to build positive character in their lives
- How to move from being a Wanderer and an Explorer, to a Follower and a Leader
- How to “Be The Change” on their campus