Praise for Teachers Are Heroes™

“Mark Anthony Garrett validates the decision I made to become an educator. I’ve seen him three times and I recommend him highly.”

– Jim Frazier, Superintendent

Brown County

“Mark Anthony Garrett has given us a powerful gift in his book Teachers Are Heroes. Not only is it a celebration of the profession and the difference teachers make, it is a guide for showing teachers how to truly transform the lives of those they teach.”

–Chike Akua, Executive Director

Teacher Transformation Institute

“Mark Anthony Garrett has truly captured the essence of what real teaching is all about.”

–Dr. Robert L. Lawson, Educator

“When I heard Mark Anthony Garrett present his Teachers Are Heroes message, I was totally blown away. I have been a conference planner for many years and Mark is one of the BEST SPEAKERS I’ve ever seen and one of the best at connecting with an audience. I was so impressed that I invited him to be the opening keynote speaker at our State Title One conference. I would highly recommend him to any school district who is looking for someone to inspire and recharge their educators.”

– Bill Bogner, Title One Conference Facilitator

OAASFEP

Teachers Are Heroes: 7 Success Principles For Transformational Teaching

© 2013 by Mark Anthony Garrett

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author.

Address all inquiries to: info@markanthonygarrett.net

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-0-9796942-2-6

Cover Design: Malcolm McCrae

Published by: Global Insight Productions, LLC, www.TeachersAreHeroes.com

For additional copies please visit: www.TeachersAreHeroes.com

To my Third Grade Teacher,

Mrs. Ritchie,

who is and will always be my hero.

www.TeachersAreHeroes.com

Acknowledgements

At this moment, I would like to thank some of the individuals that have been critical in my life’s journey and success. Without these wonderful people, I would not be the man that I am today.

I am forever grateful and I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to My Lord and Savior for without him nothing is possible.

My wonderful and beautiful wife Tracee. Thank you for seeing my potential and always believing in me, even when I did not believe in myself.

To my children, Halston, Mark, Braden and Myles, who are sometimes my greatest teachers.

To my brother Victor and his loving wife Patricia for guiding me in the right direction while growing up.

To my late parents, Marion and Mary Garrett.

To my best friend and mentor Dr. Robert L. Lawson, thanks for the many late nights of brainstorming and building the dream.

To Chike Akua, thank you for believing in this project and encouraging me to get it done.

To Kendall Lee and Melissa Thompson, for the opportunity to truly spread my wings and fly.

To Harvey Alston, the mentor’s mentor. Thank you for teaching me how to dance with who brought me.

To my staff, thanks for all of your hard work, you guys ROCK!

To Aleta Polley, thanks for your friendship and introducing me to the world of public speaking.

Last but not least, to my dear friends and mentors Gail Spears and Bobby Cochran. Your love and support have blessed my life in so many ways. I love you both unconditionally.

Mark Anthony Garrett

For more information about

Teachers Are Heroes

please visit us at:

www.TeachersAreHeroes.com

Table of Contents

Preface

By Chike Akua, Teacher Transformation Institute

Foreword

By Dr. Robert Lawson

Teachers Are Heroes

Poem By Dr. Robert Lawson

Introduction

Principle 1

Understand Your Reason For Being: Your Purpose is Powerful

Principle 2

Conviction: The Belief That You Can Make a Difference

Principle 3

Passion: Fuel Your Success With Passion and Enthusiasm

Principle 4

Commit To Constant & Never-Ending Improvement

Principle 5

Integrity: Make Integrity a Guiding Principle

Principle 6

Courage: Embrace Adversities, Enjoy the Victory

Principle 7

Persistence: Unleash The Hero Within

Photos of Mark

Quotes about Mark

In Closing

About the Author

Preface

It was a cold winter morning in Detroit at a large educational conference. I was burdened down with large boxes of books and DVDs at a huge convention center. I didn’t know my way around, where to park, where to unload, which room to present in, or even what to do. I was completely disoriented as the time for my presentation drew nearer and nearer. I slowly exhaled and watched my breath break against the cold air. As I was feeling my heart rate rise, a man suddenly appeared.

“Hey man, do you need a hand,” he asked. Relieved, I smiled. “Yeah, definitely! Thanks.” I replied. The man picked up several boxes and we headed toward the convention center. While walking through the expansive space, we discovered that he was to present in the room right next to mine. “Thanks again ...” I paused, awaiting him to tell me his name. “Mark Anthony Garrett.” He replied. “Well, thanks again, Mark Anthony Garrett.” We shook hands one more time and he headed over to his room. I then realized I was truly in the presence of a great man—this was indeed someone who had a natural gift for helping people.

I had no idea that Mark was a nationally known speaker and trainer, and he was so selflessly willing to assist me. Imagine that! He could have been relaxing or preparing for his own presentation. But to see someone in need and not help is not his way.

After my presentation, I decided to sit in on his session. To say I was amazed would be an understatement. He didn’t give a speech, he created an experience. As his presentation ended, I noticed the teachers were more excited, informed, inspired and encouraged with new insights and approaches. They left with a newfound ability to connect with their children as well as to increase their student achievement.

Since becoming good friends, I have seen him teach this experience in many cities, settings and demographics. Mark has a way of connecting with people that transcends culture, class, background, and socioeconomic status. And whether speaking to teachers, foster care workers or the children themselves, the result is always a fun, high-energy transformational experience.

Needless to say, I was very flattered and humbled when Mark asked me to write the introduction to his book Teachers Are Heroes. During our many conversations on the content of this book, I realized this book is much needed and long overdue.

In my book, Education for Transformation, I discuss the fact that the oldest word relative to teaching and learning comes out of the Nile Valley of Africa. The word is Seba and it has three primary meanings, “teach,” “door,” and “star.” Along with other evidence, this indicates that the most ancient philosophy of education is, “The teacher opens the door to the universe so the student may shine like a star.” And this is precisely what Mark Anthony Garrett does!

Whether speaking to “at-risk youth” or educators, Mark always opens the door to new worlds of possibilities, he lifts the spirit of his audiences and shows them how to shine. And he’s been doing this consistently, nationally and internationally for over 20 years now.

The ancient sage Ptahhotep goes on to further describe what Seba do: “The Seba feeds the soul with that which endures unto eternity.” Again, this is a fitting description of the powerful work Mark Anthony Garrett does. He has literally saved the lives of countless youth (by their own admission), whose lives have been ravaged by physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, family separation, incarceration, poverty and terminal illness. He feeds the souls of those he serves because he is intuitively in-tune with their suffering. For, to look at him now, no one would imagine that he has experienced in some form or fashion several of the aforementioned litany of devastating life situations. These are just a few of the things that make him uniquely qualified to write this book.

So it seems only fitting that now he would carefully and lovingly share the secrets that make teachers heroes in the lives of the students and communities they serve. I am blessed and honored to know Mark Anthony Garrett and I invite you to go on an engaging journey in the following pages to meet the hero within you!

Chike Akua, Executive Director

Teacher Transformation Institute

Conyers, GA

June 2013

Foreword

My name is Dr. Robert L. Lawson, and I am a teacher and lifelong educator. As someone who has spent the past 40 years involved in the field of education, it is indeed a tremendous honor and privilege to be asked to write the foreword for this amazing book. Mark Anthony Garrett has truly captured the essence of what real teaching is all about.

Our hats are off to all of the teachers around the world. You truly do an amazing and incredible job going into those classrooms day after day. It is not an easy task and you are to be commended for your hard work. There is no question about the fact that you truly are the heroes of today. Where would we be without you?

As you read this book, I warn you, get prepared to be motivated, inspired and ready to roll, because as you turn each page, you are going to discover one captivating story after another or one amazing quote after another or something else that causes you to realize that you truly do make a difference in the lives of others.

Had it not been for you, there are people in our society who would not even be alive today were it not for your encouragement and your involvement in the lives of your students. As Mark Anthony Garrett says in the text of his book, sometimes, teaching is a thankless job. There may be times when you are teaching your heart out and it may seem that no one cares. Reading this book helps you to realize that it is at those moments that you could really be making a positive difference in someone’s life. Maybe no one will ever come back and tell you what you did that made a difference.

What’s important here is that you keep on keeping on and do what you do best in the classroom. Students may not always know how to convey how they feel about the difference you are making in their lives. They may never come back and say thank you but just know deep down in your heart that the primary reason why you got into this business in the first place was so you could help someone. Your knowledge of that is all that matters.

Dr. Robert L. Lawson

Lifetime Educator,

Teacher

Teachers are Heroes

By Dr. Robert L. Lawson

Introduction