Kevin Butler brought the magic to his Lights, Cameras, Teach sessions at the Teach Better Conferences in 2020 and 2022. His energy is infectious, his strategies are impactful, and his ability to connect with educators is truly a gift. Kevin doesn't just present; he transforms the way educators think about engagement in the classroom. Each session was packed with practical tools, engaging activities, and actionable insights that educators could use immediately to elevate their teaching
Kevin Butler
Academic Engagement, Cultivating School Culture, and Building School-wide Relationships.
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Kevin Butler
Biography
Kevin has dedicated over two decades to the field of education as a passionate teacher, leader, and advocate for student success. He started his career in New York, teaching at a public school on Long Island. After 12 years, Kevin moved to California, where he was a founding teacher and consulted for a startup school in Los Angeles. He then spent seven years teaching fifth grade at an independent school in Los Angeles, where he also served on the administrative team as the K-6 Curriculum and Instruction Director, helping shape the school’s academic programs and teaching strategies.
Throughout his career, Kevin has created authentic learning experiences that engages his students and encourages a love of learning. His approach to teaching is grounded in the belief that education should be both meaningful and exciting, with lessons that spark curiosity and promote academic growth. His commitment to his students and the profession was recognized in 2020 when he appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where Kelly Clarkson celebrated his dedication to his students and love of teaching.
Beyond the classroom, Kevin is also a speaker and facilitator. He leads hands-on workshops and professional development sessions for educators, focusing on key topics like student engagement, creating positive classroom culture, and building strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. His engaging presentation style has made him a popular speaker at educational conferences, including the GETCA conference in Canada, where over 15,000 educators were in attendance for three days of professional development. Kevin has also presented at Teach Your Heart Out, Teach Better, and ASCD. In addition to conferences, Kevin has conducted workshops and professional development at schools throughout southern California. Kevin has appeared in print in The Hollywood Reporter - LA Independent Schools edition, Teacher's Deserve It, by Adam Welcome and Rae Hughart, and can be listened to on numerous podcasts including Kids Under Construction, Teach Me- Teacher, and Aspire Education.
In 2022, Kevin's first book Lights, Cameras, TEACH: A Screenplay for Engagement, Culture, and Relationships, which was released by Dave Burgess Consulting. Part memoir, part practical guide, the book shares Kevin’s teaching philosophy and offers actionable strategies to help educators improve student engagement, strengthen classroom culture, and build meaningful relationships with students.
Today, Kevin teaches middle school social studies at a progressive independent school, where he also serves as the dean of students. His commitment to education, both in the classroom and in his work with fellow educators, continues to inspire and empower others to create positive, impactful learning environments.
Kevin Butler
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Current: Kevin Butler
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Kevin Butler
Featured Keynote Programs
Lights, Cameras, TEACH
Engagement, Culture, and Relationships
Duration: 75-90 minutes (includes hands-on activities)
Can be shortened to a 50-minute keynote without the hands-on component
Action! While teachers may not train to be entertainers, capturing and holding students’ attention is essential to effective learning. This session dives deep into the importance of engaging students in active, hands-on learning to foster a dynamic 21st-century classroom. Participants will explore practical strategies for transforming lessons into authentic learning experiences, with quick, engaging activities that get students moving and involved. Educators will also learn how to build a positive, inclusive classroom culture where all students feel safe, heard, and respected. Kevin will share his favorite tools and resources for every grade level and subject area. The session concludes with a reflection on Kevin’s personal WHY, reminding educators of the deep motivations that drive success in the classroom.
Reignite Your School's Culture!
Duration: 60 minutes
Best paired with "Building School Relationships"
Elevate your school's staff morale with this energetic, hands-on workshop designed to motivate and unite your team! Kevin will engage participants in team-building activities that are both fun and impactful, helping to strengthen bonds and spark creativity. Through games like Egg Roulette, Puzzlemania, Frozen T-shirt, Lies in a Box, and Last One Standing, teachers will experience firsthand how these engaging activities can foster a positive school culture and provide immediate ideas for the classroom. This session will leave your staff revitalized, ready to implement strategies that bring excitement and collaboration into every corner of your school.
Morning Meetings and Classroom Culture
Duration: 30 - 45 minutes
Kick-start your school day with energy and purpose by transforming your morning meetings into a dynamic cultural touchpoint for your classroom! In this session, Kevin will share innovative ideas for creating interactive and engaging morning routines that build community and set the tone for a positive learning environment. You’ll learn how to implement Kevin's "Morning Co-host Show" format, a creative and easy-to-execute approach that requires little to no prep. The session also includes practical strategies and resources for promoting Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), student-centered learning, and setting your students up for success from the very start of the day.
Engagement and Academic Games
Duration: 60 minutes
Effective teaching begins with engaging students, and this session focuses on the power of intentional, academic engagement to drive student success. You don’t need to make every lesson a show, but you do need to purposefully connect with students and capture their attention. Kevin will guide you through several interactive academic games and engagement activities that can be used in any grade level or content area. Participants will have the chance to experience these activities firsthand, leaving with tangible resources, manipulatives, and fresh ideas for fostering student participation. Requires each participant to have a device that connects to the internet.
Kevin Butler
Featured Book
Lights, Cameras, TEACH!: A Screenplay for Engagement, Culture, and Relationships
by Kevin Butler
And . . . Action!
While teachers don’t train to be entertainers, teaching must capture students’ attention and, yes, at times entertain them. This doesn’t mean that every lesson has to be a Broadway musical number, but it does require educators to be intentional when engaging students in active learning. In Lights, Cameras, TEACH!, Kevin J. Butler brings the magic of the movies to the classroom, presenting a scene-by-scene script packed with film-inspired ideas for educators.
Of course, a blockbuster classroom is more than just fun. It’s a powerful reflection of collaborative effort to achieve a shared vision. Like directors, educators do their best work when they build relationships, and when students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and staff work together with teachers toward a common goal, just like in the movies, anything is possible! Drawing on his experiences in Hollywood and incorporating the voices of students and educators from around the country, Kevin Butler offers a vision for classroom engagement that’s sure to be a smash hit in your school.
Endorsements
“Kevin Butler is a phenomenal educator. You would be hard-pressed to find a book that gives more practical, effective strategies that you can implement right away.” —Kim Bearden, cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher, the Ron Clark Academy
“Filled with practical ideas that will hook your students like never before! Not only does Kevin provide ideas for classroom transformations and games, he also offers ideas to help build connections within the classroom and across communities.” —Deedee Wills, award-winning educator, international speaker, and curriculum developer at Mrs. Wills Kindergarten
“Lights, Cameras, TEACH! is outstanding. It takes readers on a cinematic journey into the whimsical world of creating entertaining yet educative spaces for students.” —Dr. Richard Warren Jr., Maryland State Teacher of the Year, educator, and national speaker
Kevin Butler
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