We were sure that the 2024 Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville was going to be great, and we were right! Our 3,000+ attendees had over 400 sessions to choose from throughout the week, but it all started with an incredible speech from Michael Bonner who got the crowd amped up with his motivational words.

Bonner is a motivational speaker who has been on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “NBC Nightly News” and more. He also teaches fourth and sixth grade at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.

In his speech, he gave us six different lessons on creating a great 2024-2025 school year!

Lesson 1: Take responsibility for the classroom energy.

Bonner began his speech by highlighting the crucial role of energy in the classroom.

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred,” he stated, emphasizing that educators must bring the energy they expect to see in their students. This principle is foundational in creating a positive and productive learning environment.

How do you act in your classroom each day? Are you bringing the energy down? Bonner suggested simple ways that you can fix this if so. For example, coming in with a positive mindset and engaging students enthusiastically and passionately will make a huge difference.

In his classroom, Bonner uses music and humor to bring up the energy level.

Lesson 2: Build connections.

How can you demand something from a student when you haven’t taken the time to get to know them and show them why they should trust you?

“You can’t demand a withdrawal from someone you have never invested in,” Bonner said to cheers of acknowledgment.  Bonner talked about Trey, a student in one of his classes.  Trey caused some trouble in Bonner’s second-grade class, and at first, Bonner wasn’t happy with the interruptions. However, over time, Trey started to listen to him.

By third grade, Trey was still misbehaving in other teachers’ classes, but he would listen when Bonner checked in on him. His fellow teachers wanted to know what his secret was. Why was Trey listening to Bonner, but not the others?

Bonner said that the trick was that he made a point to spend quality time with the student to understand Trey’s background and unique needs. By building a relationship based on empathy, patience, consistent support and trust, he was able to ask things of the student that others, who hadn’t built the same relationship, could not.

By building connections like this with your students, you will find yourself in a place where you are better able to help them with whatever they need.

Lesson 3: Know your teaching type and what to do about it.

Bonner claimed that there are four main types of teachers:

• Believers: These educators are intrinsically motivated, emotionally intelligent and focused on solutions rather than problems.
• Tweeners: Often caught between enthusiasm and cynicism, tweeners can sway either way.
• Survivors: While survivors are resilient, they are often exhausted from carrying heavy burdens.
• Fundamentalists: Resistant to change and often negative, fundamentalists pose challenges to progress.

Bonner encouraged everyone in the audience to take stock of which of these they are. For those not in the believer camp, he asked them to think about how to get there through methods such as finding a support system or making sure to take care of their own mental and physical health so that they can come to school in their best mindset. 

Lesson 4: Create a positive classroom culture.

Bonner’s session was not just about identifying challenges but also about providing solutions. He stressed the importance of creating a positive classroom culture where students feel valued and motivated. One approach he recommended was using compliments and positive affirmations to uplift students and colleagues alike.

During the session, Bonner invited audience members to turn to the person next to them and offer a genuine compliment. This exercise, he explained, is a powerful way to spread positivity and build a supportive community.

“Make someone’s day in the next 30 seconds,” he urged, demonstrating how small acts of kindness can make a significant impact.

Lesson 5: Develop a system for self-care.

Teaching is hard! This is something that most people will not argue with, and Bonner understands that it is true. He detailed times he faced burnout and the importance of coming up with systems to deal with these moments.

“You cannot be 100%, 100% of the time,” he said, and so you have to find ways to handle those times when you aren’t at your best.

Here are some of his ideas on creating self-care when you feel burned out:

• Rest
• Reflect
• Find time for personal interests

He encouraged the audience to build each of these into their routines, reminding them that a teacher who is not cared for will not be equipped to care for their students.

Lesson 6: Embrace change and innovation.

Bonner concluded his speech with a call to action: Embrace change and innovation. He acknowledged that the path to improvement is often fraught with opposition but stressed the importance of perseverance.

“Sometimes the light in you frustrates the demons in others,” he said, urging educators to stay committed to their vision despite challenges.

He highlighted the necessity of adapting to new educational tools and methodologies, encouraging educators to be open to learning and growth.

Bonner’s own journey of using creative methods, such as music videos and innovative classroom setups, served as a testament to the benefits of embracing change.

Final Thoughts

Michael Bonner’s opening session at the SREB’s 2024 Making Schools Work Conference was a blend of inspiration, humor and practical advice. His messages about energy, connection, self-care and innovation resonated deeply with the audience, providing them with valuable lessons to take back to their classrooms.

When asked what her favorite part of the conference was, one attendee answered Michael Bonner without hesitation.

“I have been to the Ron Clark Academy, so I was very excited to have him as a keynote on Tuesday,” she said. “It was very inspirational, and it allowed me to be self-reflective to think about how I approach my students, how I come into our school, and what changes I need to make internally in order to be the best for my students.”

As educators left the session, they were reminded of the profound impact they have on their students’ lives and the importance of approaching their roles with passion, empathy and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Bonner’s closing words encapsulated the spirit of the session.

“We are here to create generational change that will transform the lives of our students and, ultimately, the world.”

Make sure to sign up for our Promising Practices Newsletter in order to get more insights into the 2024 Making Schools Work Conference.

Subscribe to Promising Practices