On Oct. 20, children’s author and inspirational speaker Sarah Ketsy will visit Adam Elementary School to speak to students about embracing differences and overcoming challenges.
Ketsy writes books and articles for children, parents, and teachers. Her works on the development of empathy have gained national attention for their role in bully prevention and increasing self-esteem in children. She will be speaking to third and fourth grade students about three topics: bullying, respect for women, and the school’s three rules—be safe, be respectful, and be responsible.
“We are excited to bring in a well-known speaker to discuss empathy with our students. We all understand that when a bystander takes the empathetic perspective of the victim, they are less likely to remain passive, and more willing to support the victim,” Laurie Graack, Adam Elementary’s principal, said in a statement. “At Adam School, we focus on empowering students to ‘Stand Up to Bullying,’ and this is a natural extension of those efforts.”
Ketsy’s book Everyone Has Something. Together We Can is recognized by leaders in the education and child psychology fields for its simple, profound message, according to the statement. The book celebrates the journeys people take when faced with a struggle, reminding folks to consider the things other people may be facing and to take an empathetic look at others.
A veteran special and general education teacher, Ketsy also holds a master’s degree and two teaching credentials. She writes for several education magazines, and shares classroom stories, tips, and inspiration on her blog, blog.sarahkesty.com/.
For more information, visit sarahkesty.com.
This article appears in Oct 16-23, 2014.