Todd Nesloney
Educator. Author. Speaker.
“THERE IS A LEADER WITHIN EACH OF US... I love working with schools, districts, and organizations to help them build up their culture and embrace the leader within so they can be empowered to instigate change!”
Todd Nesloney
Award-Winning Educator, 7x Author, 2x TEDx Speaker
Todd Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). He has also served as the Director of Get Your LEAD On (underneath the Get Your Teach On umbrella) and was previously a Principal/Lead Learner at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his books Kids Deserve It!, Stories From Webb, Sparks in the Dark, When Kids Lead, In This Season: Words for the Heart, and his newest book, Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You. He has also published a children’s book, Spruce & Lucy.
Todd has been recognized by John C. Maxwell as a Top 10 Finalist for the 2018 Transformational Leadership Award, by the White House as a Connected Educator “Champion of Change”, the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in Education, the Center for Digital Education as one of their “Top 40 Innovators in Education”, the BAMMYs as the “National Elementary Principal of the Year” and the “National Elementary Teacher of the Year”, and the Texas Computer Education Association as their “Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year”.
More about Todd…
Todd is passionate about education and innovation. Todd was a classroom teacher for 7 years before taking the leap straight from classroom teacher to campus principal.
The one thing that is clear about Todd when you hear him speak or talk is his immense love for doing what’s best for kids despite limitations. Todd worked in an environment where over 90% of his students were on a free-and-reduced lunch. His campus and district were 85% minority-majority and face many challenges. But that’s exactly what Todd thrives on. Todd loves a challenge.
Todd also travels and speaks about his innovative practices. He is also a 2x TEDx Speaker.
Todd actively blogs and shares his stories through many different social media avenues, especially Twitter.
Todd has a wife named Lissette and twin boys named Liam & Brixton. They live in a small community in Brenham, Texas.
Speaking Videos
"Prepare to be blown away. When Todd presents he brings an armada of emotion coupled with pragmatic advice that will have you ready to march to the moon for your students. Pure inspiration."
— BRAD - WAYZATA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Program Options
Keynote Address
Todd’s keynotes ignite lasting change, connecting deeply and leaving a profound impact. Attendees gain renewed purpose and tools for positive community and societal impact.
Virtual Events
Todd offers options for all types of events, whether they are live online or pre-recorded. He always delivers a powerful event for your audience and community.
Ongoing P.D. Options
Todd and his team has developed an exceptional program to meet your district or school's ongoing professional development needs. This option in-person and virtual training, online resources, books, and more…
Professional Development
To complement his highly sought-after Keynote, he can provide a variety of professional development sessions with teachers, administrators, support staff, or anyone! These formats can be half-day, full-day, or even multi-day events!
Online Courses
Over 100 Ideas & Resources per course… Check both out!
1) Building Classroom Culture for teachers and staff together.
2) Building Campus Culture for admin or the entire school leadership team.
Speech Topics
Tech Tools with Todd
Audience: For Teachers
Description: Throughout his career, Todd has utilized technology to increase his teaching capacity. In this session, Todd shares some of his favorite tech tools and uses personal experiences and stories to show the true impact of having kids (and adults) create with technology, share their story, and collaborate.
Difficult Conversations
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-90 minutes
Description: As educators and leaders, we all have to lead (or be present in) conversations that aren’t easy to have, even more so when we have to do these virtually. In this session, Todd will share his 5 steps on how to have successful difficult conversations in a virtual and in-person setting. Whether you are leading the meeting or coming as an attendee. Coming prepared with a game plan is the best tool we have.
Family Engagement
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-minutes
Description: We all know the importance of getting the family involved in what’s happening at school, but so often we don’t even know where to begin. Throughout this conversation, Todd will give you actionable items that you can use immediately to actively involve all families (even virtually!).
Tell Your Story
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-90 minutes
Description: Time after time we find ourselves getting lost in stories. We go on adventures, suffer heartache, celebrate wildly, and suspend belief as we consume the story of others. But how often do you find yourself sharing YOUR story? Letting others experience your journey. In this session, Todd Nesloney will share pieces of his story and how important it is for others to experience yours. He’ll share practical ways that you can take that first step, tools you can use, and ways to overcome that fear and self-doubt. Why? Because every story matters.
Be the Spark: Ignite the Love of Reading Campus-Wide
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-90 minutes
Description: Todd is passionate about Igniting a love of reading on and off campus. The power comes in getting kids (and adults!) to read because they love it, not because of a test or an assignment (We’ve all been there!). Todd shares a plethora of ideas on how your campus (or classroom) can build a love of reading so everyone can experience the SPARK of falling in love with a good book.
When Kids Lead
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-minutes
Description: Todd Nesloney has worked his entire career to help grow students into leaders and world-changers. Whether it’s through SPECIAL, Morning Meetings, Social Media Interns, Student Ambassadors, or more! Throughout this presentation, let Todd share with you the many ways that you can inspire your students to dream big and leave a mark worth remembering.
Culture Matters! with Admin & Leadership
Audience: For Administrators and Leadership
Time: 60- 90 minutes
Description: Far too many administrators believe they are solely responsible for building up the school’s culture. In this session, Todd will provide ideas easy to implement ideas that create a space where every voice is valued and everyone is a part of the culture. This naturally leads to higher teacher retention, better relationships, and increased job satisfaction. Let’s work together to build up the culture of our schools.
Culture Matters! with Teachers - School/District
Audience: For Teachers, Schools, and District PD
Time: 60- 90 minutes
Description: Everyone plays a role in building up the culture of a campus. Todd has experienced firsthand as an Educator (both as instruction aide and classroom teacher), as well as a Campus Principal, how empowering students and adults transformed not only the campus culture but also their lives. Todd will lay out strategies you can implement next-day, which will positively impact everyone, build stronger relationships, and, most importantly, increase student outcomes.
Kids Deserve It!
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60-minutes
Description: For far too long, we have done the same old things in Education. It’s time that we think differently and stop making excuses. It’s time that we look at education through a renewed perspective and allow ourselves more aligned creative freedoms. Let’s eliminate the boundaries and titles and seek to do what’s best for kids.
Hire, Train, Retain
Audience: For Teachers
Description:
Delve into the often-overlooked art of hiring, training, and retaining top educators. Todd, known for his engaging humor and honesty, will reveal essential strategies for conducting effective interviews, nurturing talent, and maintaining a strong team. This session offers leaders practical insights for building and sustaining a high-performing educational team. This session promises to transform your approach to leadership.
Audience: For Administrators
Description: Everyone likes a good tech tool that will make their jobs easier, right? Todd knows a handful of tools that exists that can benefit any administrator who is looking to keep organized, get out of their office more, and save some time!
Your Leadership Blueprint
Audience: For Administrators
Time: 60 minutes
Description: Within each of us is a leader. Whether that be in our workplace, our homes, or our friendship circles. Throughout this session/keynote Todd will share with you how you can welcome feedback, foster growth, build relational support systems, and lead in a way that inspires others to greatness. No matter your season, position, or title, leadership development begins with personal development, because who you are is how you lead.
Artificial Intelligence 101
Audience: All Educators
Time: 60 minutes
Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become integral to our everyday existence, influencing various aspects of our lives. We face a choice: either ignore this reality and risk falling behind or proactively engage with and embrace the technology. By understanding and incorporating AI into our lives, we can enhance outcomes, reclaim lost time, and foster personal growth. Join Todd in this session as he shares fundamental knowledge about artificial intelligence and provides practical ideas and resources to immediately apply to benefit your career and personal life.
For Corporate Audiences
Culture Matters!
Audience: For Businesses and Corporate Audiences
Time: 60 minutes
Description: Many corporate leaders mistakenly perceive exclusive responsibility for shaping the company’s culture. During this session, Todd will present easily implementable concepts to establish an environment where every perspective is esteemed, fostering a culture where everyone actively contributes. This naturally results in enhanced employee retention, improved interpersonal connections, and heightened job satisfaction. Let’s collaborate to strengthen the culture within our organization.
Todd is an inspiration who talks with vulnerability and honesty! We need more people like him in education willing to share their stories!
— Chris - Crystal Lake Elementary
Testimonials
I have heard Todd speak at local ‘edcamps’ here in Texas and also at ISTE 2013, 2014, and 2015. I have watched him grow as an educator and presenter. His passion for education is inspiring and contagious!
— Louise - Steam Middle School
Todd is one of those educators you come across who not only 'gets it' but is willing to put in the time to gain the knowledge to ensure his students and teachers are exceeding their goals.
— Steve Mesler - Classroom Champions & Olympic Gold Medalist
Todd is one of the most forward-thinking educators I know. He is extremely passionate about helping all students achieve their greatest potential.
— Ryan Eash - TechSmith
Today was such an amazing experience! Thank you for all that you did to make this so easy and wonderful!
— Caroline Easley, M.Ed., Facilitator - [Virtual] Robert E. Cashion Elementary
Todd is incredible. He definitely taught this old dog some new tricks. What an inspiration
— Nate - Edgewood Middle School
Todd Nesloney is one of the top voices on school leadership, building culture, and systemic transformation in our nation today. Todd's kids-first mindset radiates in every keynote, workshop, and time with other educators. Todd's experience, both as a teacher and a school administrator, makes him easy to relate to. His passion and words of wisdom motivate those with whom he works. Simply said, Todd is the exact type of educator that you want speaking to your faculty, school district, or keynoting your next conference!
— Tom, Digital Learning Director - Alliance for Excellent Education
Todd Nesloney lived up to his billing. He kept my staff engaged for the entire time he spoke!
— Kevin Noack, Superintendent - Palmer ISD
Todd engages his audience with personal accounts that are uplifting and inspiring! I always look forward to learning from him and his experiences!
— Suzanne - Round Top-Carmine Elementary
I first met Todd in ISTE San Antonio, we sat for hours and talked about his experiences inside the classroom working with students, it was obvious how passionate he was about impacting them. I recall him being a bit nervous about his transition to being a principal, but two years later it looks like he's hit his stride and loves it. He's a wonderful person and has an excellent experiences both inside, and outside the classroom as a teacher and principal!
— Brett Kopf, Co-Founder - Remind