Motivational Speakers

Our nation celebrates diversity, but what does that really mean? Do we value the newcomers from all backgrounds into our neighborhoods and schools, or does the middle-class flee as immigrants and racial minorities move in? Do parents nostalgically picture the Ozzie and Harriet days when they seek out a "good school" for their children?

Eileen Kugler presents the compelling case that diversity enhances education for all students - and our society at large. She takes her audience on a riveting journey with her, as a white middle-class parent challenged to embrace the diversity of her own community who became a national advocate for diverse schools.

In her award-winning book, Debunking the Middle Class Myth: Why diverse schools are good for all kids, Eileen documents the educational enhancements for all students at diverse K-12 schools. Based on insights of more than 80 educators, students, and parents from across the country, Eileen found that "students in diverse schools learn to think more deeply, question more intently, and problem-solve more creatively." She challenges all stakeholders, including parents and community members, to take responsibility for supporting our diverse schools - for the benefit of our communities and our nation.

Eileen brings to her keynotes and workshops the savvy professional skills of a communications expert, honed over three decades as a journalist, information director for a federal agency, executive of several non-profits, and founder of her own communications consulting firm. She gained first-hand knowledge of the challenges and rewards of diverse schools as a parent leader in a school near Washington, D.C., facing rapid demographic change. In this large high school with students from more than 90 countries and wide-ranging economic status, Eileen worked collaboratively with faculty and administrators, developing an innovative strategy that reached out to young parents, real estate agents, civic associations, and community service organizations and the media.

Today, Eileen shares her compelling message with audiences around the country. Her effective efforts to strengthen diverse schools and their surrounding communities have earned her national recognition, including the American Association for University Women's title of 2004 Virginia Education Advocate of the Year"