School District Staff Development Programs

Murray’s staff development programs have been presented to school district faculties from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Arizona, Nova Scotia to Alberta and every state & province in between!

As a former educator, who has inspired and challenged fellow educators for 23 years, he designs each presentation around the school theme and goals, and to the unique circumstances of educators in the world of No Child Left Behind.  

Teachers need laughter and Murray’s presentations are hilarious… filled with stories and images only an educator can appreciate!  And, your faculty will return to their classrooms with specific skills for passionate teaching in times of change, while maintaining balance in their lives.

	“Your keynote presentation was the highlight of the conference! Attendees repeatedly told us the keynote was not only informative, but inspirational. You certainly helped make this conference professionally rewarding for all of us!” - Director of Professional Development, School Administrators of New York State

TEACHING WITH PASSION & STYLE
At Our Best, Every Day!

An outstanding educator is unique…. That wonderful blend of intellect, experience and style! The best teachers know that “who they are is at least as important as what they know.” They have a special persona that captivates their students!

Textbooks, blackboards, computers and innovative technology have their place, but your best teaching tools may be body language, facial expressions, stories, interaction and enthusiasm. Exceptional teachers take students on field trips without leaving the classroom; tell stories to make a point; use laughter and humor; create an interesting and exciting learning space; and capitalize on voice tone and inflection to draw the class into the moment.

All this takes incredible energy, stamina and commitment… not an easy task with the demands of NCLB and benchmarks to attain. That’s why this presentation is fun and inspirational, and connects who we are to how we teach. Murray will present five skills for rekindling enthusiasm and passion, enhancing staff morale and spirit and keeping our focus on student performance.

Murray’s presentation will be just like his teaching… dynamic, specific inspirational. It is a wonderful staff development experience when we can focus on our own attitude, energy and enthusiasm, rather than test scores!

	“You were spectacular and made our Opening Day festivities the perfect way to start the new school year. Numerous staff members raved about your presentation, your style, your humor and the skill with which you blended our Middle States Evaluation results into your message.”

THE TROUBLE WITH THE FUTURE IS….IT’S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE!
Teaching Today’s Students For Tomorrow’s World!

Educators throughout North America are experiencing dramatic change in how we teach children. NCLB, AYP and other mandates take much of the creativity and art from our teaching and replace them with the stress of test scores and mandates.

The challenge is compounded because teaching is a very rhythmical job… starting at 7:58, eating lunch at 11:43 and going home at 3:04. Even, going to the bathroom at 10:14! This can lure us into the “comfort zone” where mediocrity and status quo are the norm.

The best educators are always adapting, adjusting and fine tuning their lessons; looking for creative ways to connect with each student in the room; and using innovative technology to help each student to reach their fullest potential.

Murray’s presentation will blend his incredible classroom humor and anecdotes with specific skills for creative and personalized teaching in our mandated environment. He will share his “LAVA LAMP PHILOSOPHY” for continuous change, remind us to use his “RICHTER SCALE OF STRESS” at the right moment, inspire us to avoid “PSYCHOSCLEROSIS” as we age, and prohibit us from engaging in “Group Griping” in the faculty room.

	“What a wonderful presentation! I have had nothing but RAVES about your presentation from our staff. Keith also called me from East Pennsboro, and he has had such a positive reaction, he feels his school year will be off to one of the best starts ever. At lunch yesterday, I was approached by two MALE teachers who are COACHES. Both told me your presentation was the BEST they ever attended. Wow...you were AWESOME.”

Murray Banks is a long time educator…first with children in the public schools, then with university students and now with fellow educators. His presentations focus on teaching style and its impact on student performance.
And, he knows something about performance… he is a world champion athlete and honored educator.

This man is a passionate teacher! Armed with a Masters Degree and a passion for teaching, Murray was an educator at every level from grade school to graduate school in the ‘70’s & early ‘80’s. He was honored for his teaching and coaching, culminating with Vermont’s Teacher of the Year for physical education award and the national Outstanding Educator award. He has coached teams that won state championships and teams that never won a game. He has directed extracurricular activities, been a class advisor, led field trips, created innovative teaching techniques and learned to eat school lunch in 14 minutes!

At the same time he was achieving educational honors, he was winning his first of four national championships in the triathlon. Two times he has been one of the top finishers in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Recently, racing the finest skiers from Europe and Scandinavia, Murray won the masters World Championship in cross-country skiing.

Murray took a sabbatical in 1984 to train and race internationally, work on his advanced degree in school leadership and co-author a textbook. The opportunity to inspire and challenge educators, from his unique perspective as an honored teacher and world-class athlete, lured him from his own classroom into schools and education conferences throughout North America.

	“... Thank you for your outstanding keynote presentation at our fall conference! You helped make our conference a huge success! In addition, your breakout session was extremely popular. Your evaluations were excellent and as the conference planner, I appreciated the fact that you were fun and easy to work with. Thank you again for your wonderful presentations!” - Vice President, North Central Association for Accreditation and School Improvement

 

MURRAY’S PRESENTATIONS ARE WORKING IN THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 100’S MORE…

• San Francisco • Anchorage • Citrus County Schools, FL • Syracuse City Schools, NY • Irondequoit Schools, NY • Lake Travis ISD, TX

• Fredricksburg Schools, VA • Nogales School District, AZ • Norwich Community Schools, CT • San Diego • Okemos, MI • Wake County Schools, NC

• Eanes ISD, TX • Polk County Schools, FL • Santa Clara Country Schools • Frisco ISD, TX • Midland ISD, TX • Cataraugus BOCES, NY

...and many Educational Service Centers, BOCES, Regional Service Center and technical/vocational Centers.