Dr. Manuel Scott | Speaker, Author, Servant Leader - One of the Original Freedom Writers

Dr. Manuel Scott

Speaker, Author, Servant Leader - One of the Original Freedom Writers

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Atlanta, GA, US

Dr. Manuel Scott
Biography

Dr. Manny Scott is an inspiration to millions worldwide as an original Freedom Writer whose story is depicted, in part, in the hit movie, Freedom Writers. Despite a troubled upbringing and a seemingly hopeless future, Dr. Scott has overcome unimaginable obstacles and achieved incredible success. He has dedicated his life to helping others, traveling up to 300 days per year for over 20 years to inspire and empower educators, students, and leaders.

At just 16 years old, his life was hanging by a thread. Trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence, with a father in prison and a best friend brutally murdered, he felt that his future was bleak and hopeless. He dropped out of school, missed 60-90 days annually, lived in 26 different places, and felt like his life was spiraling out of control. He sat on a park bench, contemplating how to make others feel the depth of despair and anger he felt inside. He was headed down a path that would have destroyed him.

But then, he met several individuals who changed his life forever. They helped him to turn the page, and he returned to school, ending up in the back of Erin Gruwell’s English class, known worldwide as the Freedom Writers, portrayed in the hit movie. He became the first person in his family to graduate from high school, earn a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and, most recently, a Ph.D in Intercultural Competence. Through hard work, perseverance, and the help of others, he is now living the life of his dreams. 

Through his tireless efforts, Dr. Scott has helped over two thousand schools and organizations improve student achievement, teacher efficacy, and intercultural competence. He has also helped to prevent thousands of suicides. He is the author of several best-selling books, including “Even on Your Worst Day You Can Be a Student’s Best Hope.” He is also a mentor, pilot, ordained minister, content creator, and one of the nation’s most sought-after education speakers.

When he is not on the road for work, Dr. Scott enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, writing, and spending quality time with his family. He and his family have visited 49 states and 6 continents. 

Dr. Manny Scott is truly a shining example of how, with hard work, perseverance, and the help of others, anyone can turn their life around and achieve their dreams.

Dr. Manuel Scott
Featured Videos

Current: Schools Are in a State of Emergency

Time 03:33

More Videos From Dr. Manuel Scott

Schools Are in a State of Emergency
Time 03:33
The Power of One
Time 01:46
We are Culturally Conditioned
Time 01:34
Virtual Presentation Preview
Time 05:07

How to R.E.A.C.H. Youth Today

We are in a new world, characterized by rapid changes in population density, technology, immigration patterns, ethnic, religious, economic, and political diversity. These changes have created a world that requires school employees to regularly interact with people of different cultural origins—be it in their classrooms, in schools, next door, across town, or thousands of miles away. Whether or not schools embrace these changes, these “conversations” will continue to increase in both frequency and intensity and grow in importance. In How to R.E.A.C.H. Youth Today, I equip school employees with the awareness, understandings, and skills to communicate across those differences, to reach across those divides, and to teach across those cultures.

How to REACH Youth Today Keynote/Seminar: By sharing very real, life-changing lessons Mr. Scott has learned from teachers and loving adults who helped him, and from the work he has been doing with kids for the last 18 years, he shows how to cultivate healthy relationships with students—and all youth, so that they can excel in school, and come out prepared for work and life. Learn how to transform our schools into safe, positive environments where all adults are equipped to REACH kids, and all kids are empowered to REACH their destinies. This is available as a keynote, half-day, or full-day option.

The Power of One

This message is so personal for me because when I was going through the most difficult moments of my life; when I was so sad that I used to cry myself to sleep at night, drenching my pillows (or the floors of homeless shelters) with tears and hoping that my eyes would not open the next morning; when I was in those dark places, it was loving adults—teachers, coaches, a lunch lady, an assistant principal, a man struggling with an addiction to drugs, and others— who, despite all that was wrong in the world, lovingly met me at my point of need and helped me overcome so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles in my life. They helped me go from being a high school dropout to the man I am today—living my dreams as an author, a husband, father, pilot, and public servant.

The Power of One Keynote: Manny shares how he went from a 0.6 GPA and a high school dropout to a Ph.D. student, husband, father, pilot, and public servant. This presentation reminds leaders that even on their worst days, they can be someone’s best hope.

Customized Keynote Address

Mr. Scott offers customized keynote addresses for teacher in-service days, universities, conferences, graduations, and businesses.

Virtual Presentation

To help school districts during distance learning, Manny Scott has created a studio from which he is able to provide live, high-quality (HD) interactive, virtual learning experiences for teachers, students, and school staff.

Option 1: Mr. Scott provides a live, 20-minute session with your educators. He talks about how important they are and how vital their work is during this time. This option can also be used for a presentation to students.

Option 2: A live, 40-minute session with your group. It includes an abbreviated version of The Power of One keynote (see description below), and would be followed by a Q&A.

Option 3: A live, 60-minute session of The Power of One or How to Reach Youth Today followed by a Q&A.

Note: All options include links to purchase autographed copies of Mr. Scott’s books (at a 20% discount) and shipped direct to each person.

The Power of One: Mr. Scott shares how he went from a 0.6 GPA and a high school dropout to a Ph.D. student, husband, father, pilot, and public servant. This presentation reminds leaders that even on their worst days, they can be someone’s best hope.

How to REACH Youth Today: By sharing very real, life-changing lessons Mr. Scott has learned from teachers and loving adults who helped him, and from the work he has been doing with kids for the last 18 years, he shows how to cultivate healthy relationships with students—and all youth, so that they can excel in school, and come out prepared for work and life. Learn how to transform our schools into safe, positive environments where all adults are equipped to REACH kids, and all kids are empowered to REACH their destinies.

Dr. Manuel Scott
Featured Books

Even on Your Worst Day, You Can Be a Studenta  s Best Hopeby Dr. Manuel Scott

Even on Your Worst Day, You Can Be a Studenta s Best Hope

by Dr. Manuel Scott
As Manny Scott travels the world speaking to students and educators, he meets young people whose stories sound a lot like his owna childhood that was marked by poverty, instability, violence, and despair until a few caring educators showed him how to find meaning in the classroom and gave him a glimpse of his own possibilities. So many kids he meets today need this kind of hope and practical assistance. But with all that is already on educators plates, what can an individual teacher do to help traumatized children believe in themselves, succeed in school, and graduate prepared for work and life? Here, youll find answers. With the same passion that inspires so many who hear him speak, Scott presents an approach informed by the teachers who helped him and honed through years of connecting with kids who desperately need someone to show them a path to a more positive future. He shares the little things you can do to prepare yourself for the hard work of making a difference and offers advice for bridging cultural divides, earning students trust, and equipping them to take responsibility for their own success.This book is a reminder of the incredible power every teacher has to help young people rewrite their destiniesand its a call to action for all who read it.
How to R.E.A.C.H. Youth Todayby Dr. Manuel Scott

How to R.E.A.C.H. Youth Today

by Dr. Manuel Scott
Your Next Chapter - How to Turn the Page and Create the Life of your Dreamsby Dr. Manuel Scott

Your Next Chapter - How to Turn the Page and Create the Life of your Dreams

by Dr. Manuel Scott
Speak - How to Make a Difference and a Living as a Professional Speakerby Dr. Manuel Scott

Speak - How to Make a Difference and a Living as a Professional Speaker

by Dr. Manuel Scott

Dr. Manuel Scott
Featured Reviews

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