This document contains the keynote speech from Jay Gross at the 2015 Michigan New Teachers' Conference. Some of the main points from Gross' speech include encouraging new teachers to build relationships with students, challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zones and try new teaching methods, inspire students and themselves every day, and find ways to communicate and collaborate with others. He also stresses the importance of treating students with respect and as individuals.

1. Michigan New Teachers’
Conference 2015
MEEMIC Foundation
jaygrossproductions.org
Twitter @jgross811
Facebook jgross811

2. Excited to be here…
Teach you people?
I’m one of you & hope to learn
as much if not more from you
today…
Because I came today out of
respect to you…

3. I wish someone had told
me…

4. Each year take a picture of
you and your first paycheck in
September…

6. My Actions will speak louder
than my Words ever will…

7. Started my 403B & Roth IRA
earlier…

8. So Let’s Get Started…

9. New Teacher Points To Learn!
1. 1st Year Teachers need to…
1. Learn so much…
2. Keep learning more…
3. Do more…
4. Do even more…
2. 2nd Year Teachers need to…
1. Learn 2x as much…
2. Keep learning 2x more…
3. Do 2x more…
4. Do 2x even more…
3. 3rd Year Teachers need to…
1. Learn 3x as much…
2. Keep learning 3x more…
3. Do 3x more…
4. Do 3x even more…

16. So let’s get started…

17. So I get this phone call from
Andrew…

18. Theme of “Don’t Fit In?”

20. Quick Video to the NEW theme?
And then they switched it on me…

21. Be Together. Not The
Same.

22. So as I thought about it…
Stand TOGETHER… All for the kids.

23. But find our own, unique
ways to form relationships
with kids…
All of you have your own as do I…
Relate to them
Challenge them

25. The State says:
Rigor
Relevance
Relationships
Jay says:
Relationships
Relevance
Rigor

26. My classroom is a
“Blended Buffet”

27. I welcome technology
in all aspects…
but I fear it…

29. I am not Anti-Test…
But I am Not Pro-
Test…

32. Yes… I could stand here and tell you
all the things I do with technology…
TWITTER

33. Online Portfolios
Levi J Smith
Hannah Yesmunt

37. #2 Don’t be afraid to take a chance,
step out of that comfort zone, and
try something new. Innovation is
DOING new things!

38. Shepherd High School is!
New Media Communications class
that includes social media
responsibility.

39. Getting Started…
Just wish students / people Happy
Birthday!
Post positives from the classroom /
playing field or court /concerts / etc…
Post school information… Graduation /
Guidelines / Snow day & Delay
Information
/ Hey There Shepherd / Getting To

41. But I would have to be
‘friends’ with students &
parents?
Terry Abbott… Working with the Media in a Crisis
• The Fear Factor
• Sexual Predators
• Teacher/Student relationships & texting

42. I will NOT let the less than
½% of all educators who are
sexual deviants & predators
& perverts rule my life.
Period.

43. Cell phones
a problem?
It is how I treat my students…
They respond back with what
they receive…

45. My Vision / Theme
Take a chance…
Communicate…
Collaborate…

46. Every single child we come across
has a gift…
It is our mission to help them find the
gift. Help them unwrap it. Help them
polish it. Help them use it.

47. My Seventh Grade teacher Mr. Rezle

48. They all have voices and all of them
are yearning to be heard…
Think about it for a second. What is
digital story technology without a
story to tell?

49. What my students wanted to
say to new, young teachers…
“New teachers should
actively get involved in
school activities outside of
the classroom such as sports
and clubs.” Tory C
“We do know what we are talking about occasionally.
Do not immediately treat us like we know nothing
about life, we may not know everything but we do not
deserve to be treated like children.” Hannah M

50. More From Students…
“I always felt I did better in classes where the teacher would pull me aside and
ask how I was doing or something along those lines. I would also say that
treating high school students as adults and not children would be beneficial.”
Mac R

51. From Teachers & Admin…
• Build a support system
• Build & Strengthen Relationships
• Collaborate & Share

52. Keeping positive in a
sometimes negative world…
#3 Inspire daily… yourself and those around you

53. “Look, if you
had one shot, or
one opportunity
to seize
everything you
ever wanted in
one moment,
would you
capture it or just
let it slip?”
Eminem

55. If I can touch their minds,
they might remember it.
If I can touch their hearts, it
just might embed in their
souls…

56. I am going to curse you two
ways…

57. #1

58. #2

61. #1 Always stop and look through our
students’ eyes
#2 Don’t be afraid to take a chance,
step out of that comfort zone, and try
something new. Innovation is DOING
new things!
#3 Inspire daily… yourself and those
around you.

62. #4 Realize this profession is a
gift…

63. Thank you.
Today has been my honor…
All my best and then some…

64. Mr. Jay Gross
Shepherd High School
jaygrossproductions.org
Twitter: jgross811
FaceBook: Jay B Gross