Kyle Schwartz

Author | Educator | Child Advocate 

​Kyle's keynote speeches and workshops have been presented nationally and internationally, at  schools and national conferences, from teachers-in-training to members of congress to corporate executives.
TEDx KYOTO
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH DAVID MUIER
CBS EVENING NEWS
In her first year of teaching, third grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students a beautifully simple question-- What do you wish your teacher knew? Some years later she shared the lesson on social media. Her students' candid responses inspired the #IWishMyTeacherKnew movement. Her students were able to share their stories on every major media outlet in the country which sparked a conversation about the realities American students face and how schools can be more supportive.  Kyle earned a BA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. A TEDx speaker and author of I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids and I Wish For Change: Unleashing the Power of Kids to Make a Difference, Kyle is a dedicated advocate for students. 
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Speech Topics

i wish my teacher knew one question can change everything
Kyle asked her students this simple yet powerful question during her very first year of teaching. Years later, she shared this lesson on social media. Teachers and students around the world began trying the lesson out themselves sparking the #iwishmyteacherknew movement. In this keynote speech, Kyle shares insights and wisdom she has gained from reading so many of these messages from students across the world. She expertly weaves moving stories from her classroom, explains pedagogical theory, gives researched-based strategies, and passes along advice from experts. This keynote specifically focuses on: 
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  1. Building Relationships
  2. Co-Creating Belonging
  3. Responding to Needs
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Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the realities their students face as well as several strategies that can be immediately implemented to create supportive, nurturing learning environments. Above all attendees will feel encouraged and inspired to do the difficult yet rewarding work of nurturing the lives of young people. 
i wish my ceo knew How understanding employees leads to a more productive environment
This presentation delves into a surprising source of business expertise-- the elementary school classroom. Even with mountains of data and armies of analysts, it’s easy for business leaders to miss essential information and insight. That’s because leadership does not happen inside databases, it happens within relationships. In this session, Kyle shares what teachers know about fostering collaboration, adaptability, and a sense of belonging can be applied to transform offices into more innovative and productive learning organizations. 

i wish for change Empowerment, Engagement, and Making a REAL Difference
There is a whole lot about our world and our communities that need fixing. The good news-- young people are up for the task!
In this session Kyle equips educators and caring adults to help children stand up for what they believe in and make a real difference. This session is filled with messages from children of all ages that share their greatest wishes and hopes for the future. Kyle will share inspiring stories from her classroom, real world examples of kids creating change, and replicable strategies that will empower and engage young people. Major topics include:
  1. Understanding the POWER in emPOWERment
  2. Developing passions and purposes
  3. Looking for duct tape: finding what needs fixing
When young people feel heard, empowered, and inspired, learning becomes truly meaningful. 
a soft place to land HELPING ALL STUDENTS FEEL VALUED AND SAFE
Some of the children in our classrooms have already experienced challenges . The impact of toxic stress and trauma can affect students’ mood, motivation, and memory. It changes the way the brain learns. This session will help develop the professional expertise it takes to teach with trauma in mind through clear explanations of our current understandings of trauma and learning, research-based best practices, and moving stories from Kyle’s classroom. Attendees will explore topics like:

  1. What do schools need to know about trauma?
  2. Trauma-informed: What it is and what it isn’t
  3. How schools can support regulation and learning

    When we understand how trauma, grief, and loss manifest, we can make our classrooms “soft places to land” where all students feel safe and valued.
A Classroom of Your Own: What every future teacher should know
This presentation focuses on essential insights for aspiring educators. Kyle provides guidance on creating an inclusive, supportive, and engaging classroom environment. She covers fundamental teaching strategies, classroom management techniques, and the importance of empathy and understanding in shaping the future of education.

“Recently I had the opportunity to witness Kyle Schwartz as she presented a moving and thought provoking keynote to our National Investors Summit, a gathering of leaders from across the nation. Kyle Schwartz is a thoughtful, creative and dynamic presence as a speaker. She is a colorful storyteller with a unique ability to connect with any audience. Kyle is authentic and powerful and the lessons she shares stay with you. She has the great combination of grace and grit that captures the reality of the issues facing our country and our children. Her in person speaking abilities are a dynamic companion to her remarkable and compelling book."

— Charlie Rose
​Senior Vice President & Dean - City Year Inc.     ​

Previous Engagements

  • TEDxKyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
  • Learning Forward National Conference, Richardson, TX.
  • Colorado Technology Association, Larkspur, CO
  • City Year National Investor Summit, Washington, DC.
  • Lowe's Toolbox for Education
  • University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
  • The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Washington, DC


​Books

I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything For Our Kids

​One day, third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students to fill-in-the-blank in this sentence: "I wish my teacher knew _____." The results opened her eyes to the need for educators to understand the unique realities their students face in order to create an open, safe and supportive place in the classroom. Schwartz's book tells the story of #IWishMyTeacherKnew, including many students' emotional and insightful responses, and ultimately provides an invaluable guide for teachers, parents, and communities.
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"Kyle Schwartz has turned a viral classroom exercise into a powerful argument for what American students need: to be asked, heard, and finally answered. Packed with sharp insights and vivid classroom details, I Wish My Teacher Knew is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of education.” --Elizabeth Green,
CEO, and editor-in-chief, Chalkbeat 
I Wish For Change: Unleashing The Power Of Kids

In I Wish for Change, teacher and author Kyle Schwartz equips both teachers and parents to help children stand up for what they believe is right and make value-driven decisions. She shows how children's adaptability, vulnerability, and empathy make them excellent agents for change, as well as how to teach children about the mechanics and structures of power so they can effectively change them.
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"Not only does Schwartz share an abundance of inspiring stories from her own students (and other school-aged students around the world) doing incredible, impactful things, but she also is not afraid to share mistakes made and lessons learned throughout her years in the classroom.” --Christopher Kasper
High School Counselor, 
THE BLUE-COLLAR COUNSELOR​        


​Related Links

OFFICIAL ​WEBSITE
​THE NEW YORK TIMES
What Kids Wish Their Teachers Knew