The Students of Excellence™ School Motivational/Educational Assembly

The Students of Excellence™ Motivational/Educational Assembly is a real-life character-education data-driven evidence based program of motivation and education for students of all levels. Students of Excellence Assembly not only addresses many factors that may place students at risk and contribute to a student’s decision to drop out of school, it promotes protective factors to increase academic achievement, enhance self-efficacy, and promote personal accountability and responsibility.

Unlike most school assemblies, Dr. Adolph Brown uses humor punctuated by seriousness with attention-getting strategies and techniques of a master teacher to engage ALL in attendance with life altering and life-style changing messages. Dr. Brown is a certified master teacher and clinical/educational psychologist widely known as one of the most reputable &  effective youth motivational speakers for k-12 students, colleges, charter schools and private schools.  One of Doc's favorite professional activities is speaking to, mentoring, and coaching high risk youth.  He also looks forward to speaking to AVID program participants in small focus groups following his role as a student assembly speaker. Dr. Brown also enjoys presenting as an inspiring MLK speaker, as an at risk youth speaker and as a student & youth services professional.  Students from all walks of life report remembering and implementing Dr. Brown’s strategies long after The Students of Excellence™ Assembly:

http://www.facebook.com/docspeaks

The following list was adapted from the publication by SE Wells (1990) At Risk Youth: Identification, Programs, and Recommendations and the Massachusetts Department of Education 1989 report Changing Schools and Communities: A Systematic Approach to Dropout Prevention. (Dr. Brown touches on the majority of the risk factors listed within an hour presentation) Program hosts are encouraged to select relevant audience risk factors for Dr. Brown to include in his address. A Follow-up PDF Overview is provided to teachers, counselors, parents, guardians, and coaches to reinforce the lessons prescribed in each presentation.

Examples of School Factors:

• Excessive use of discipline methods such as suspensions
• Disregard of individual student learning styles
• Institutional racism
• Lack of relevant curriculum
• Large enrollment/class size
• Lack of language instruction
• Lack of participation in school governance by key constituents
• Lack of effective student assessment
• Lack of diversity in instructional styles
• Lack of professional development opportunities
• Lack of cross-cultural sensitivity
• Lack of appropriate role models
• Low expectations from staff
• Low parent/community involvement in school
• Negative and/or unsafe school environment
• Passive instructional strategies
• Raised academic standards without adequate school support
• Rigid daily and weekly schedules
• Segregation by ability grouping or tracking

Examples of Community Factors:

• Lack of community support services
• Lack of community support for schools and linkages with schools
• High incidence of criminal activity
• Unsafe neighborhoods
• High unemployment
• Exploitation of youth, including sex trafficking
• Lack of adequate health care
• Lack of affordable housing
• Proliferation of controlled substances

Examples of Family/Home Factors:

• Low socioeconomic status
• Numerous family responsibilities
• No parental involvement in school
• Low parental expectations
• Non-English speaking home
• Child abuse or neglect
• Domestic violence
• High mobility
• Homelessness
• Little opportunity for learning outside of school
• Low educational attainment of parent(s)

PDF Follow Up Overview