Few voices in K-12 education command a stage like Dr. John W. Hodge. He turns research into results, and audiences leave his sessions with strategies they can use the moment they walk back into their schools.
His path began in the 7th Infantry Division of the United States Army, where discipline and purpose shaped the educator he would become. He received his formal training at North Carolina A&T, Chapman University, and finally Virginia Tech, where his research focused on student resilience and the factors that drive academic success for students from economically challenged communities.
Dr. Hodge has lived the work from every angle. Over his career, he has served as a classroom teacher, AVID instructor, district initiative leader, Associate Director of AVID Center Eastern Division across 13 states, and Director of An Achievable Dream Academy, a high performing school in an economically challenged urban area. Today he serves as Chief Inspirational Officer of AADULLC, formed through a strategic merger of ULLC and An Achievable Dream, carrying the message of academic excellence for all children to educators and stakeholders across the country.
John Hodge is also the author of multiple books, including You Can Get in the Way and Resilience By Design, which empower and equip educators to create thriving school communities.
When Dr. Hodge takes the stage, people change for the better. Teams reconnect to their purpose, leaders find new clarity, and the audience walks away believing again. Hundreds of thousands of children across the United States, South America, and Canada have been positively impacted by the work of Dr. John W. Hodge.
The education of America’s youth is a challenging prospect when one considers the many burdens faced by impoverished children and their families. Research indicates that poverty need not be a barrier to academic excellence. As co-author of the book Standing in the Gap, Dr. Hodge states, “Across the nation, schools are demonstrating that it can be done: That students can reach high standards, that all children can succeed, that the gap between white and minority students, poor and affluent, can be closed.” More often than not, one caring adult can make all the difference in the world. This presentation will encourage all of us to BE THE ONE.
Resilience has never been more important than it is right now in America’s schools and communities, many of which are still recovering from the risk-factors exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, and in the near future, schools must be purposeful in their efforts to foster resilience in students and staff. In the book, You Can Get in the Way, Dr. Hodge defines resilience in the following way: “Resilience refers to the ability to avoid, navigate, bounce back from, get through, get over, go around, or survive adversities of all kinds.” This session is the perfect way to inspire your school district, schools and/or community stakeholders to take action. In this session, Dr. Hodge provides an overview of the book along with very practical solutions to help buffer the risk-factors that traditionally hold kids back. It’s the perfect launch for a new school year, or a needed boost during the tough months that follow. After being shared with over 800 educators in a state-wide conference, this session has already been described as “life-changing” by many of those lucky enough to hear it.
Throughout the nation, schools are seeking best practices in school improvement to increase student achievement for all students as we meet the demands more rigorous academic standards. Successful schools have determined that highly engaging instruction with a standards-aligned curriculum focus, driven by meticulous data analysis, are the keys to success in this high stakes testing environment. The development process for the most effect school action plans is a six-step model:
This simple yet effective process has been used by thousands of educational leaders to align intention with effective action, ensuring that all students reach their full potential.
S.A.M.E. stands for Social, Academic and Mindset Education. It is a holistic approach to creating and sustaining academic excellence in today’s schools. S.A.M.E. provides a research supported, holistic view of school improvement by addressing all of the components of school and district culture which must be addressed if lasting school reform is to be attained, i.e. the Social Domain, the Academic Domain and the Mindset Domain. As the rigor of state accountability measures increase, schools must focus their efforts to achieve and sustain academic excellence. Come learn how this approach has been particularly successful in schools serving economically challenged communities.
Discover how to unlock student potential through motivational interviewing! Join Dr. John W. Hodge as he demonstrates how the SAME framework—Social, Academic, and Mindset Education—transforms motivational interviewing into a powerful tool for addressing student challenges. You’ll learn to explore student behaviors, strengthen teaching and learning strategies, and transform belief systems that drive student actions. This session connects motivational interviewing with resilience research, offering evidence-based strategies to build supportive relationships with students facing adversity. Leave equipped with practical, actionable techniques you can implement immediately to help every learner thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to student engagement and success!
