Back-to-school convocations, professional development days, school nutrition and transportation conferences, superintendent and board associations. A lifelong stutterer who was the kid in the back of the room — now the speaker teachers ask for again.
Jody Fuller stuttered through every day of school in Opelika, Alabama, got picked on for it, and had teachers who changed his life anyway. When he stands in front of 400 educators on the first day back, that story is not a bit — it is the reason he is there.
He has opened the school year for Lee County Schools, Opelika City Schools, Seminole County, Thomas County, Bremen City, Albertville City, Sheffield City and Todd County Schools, and keynoted for the Georgia Department of Education, the Alabama Independent School Association, the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, SEAS Education and school nutrition and transportation associations. Superintendents report being thanked for the speaker — a rarity they mention in writing.
Adjusted to your theme for the year, your district’s wins and the length of your agenda.
The kid who stuttered in the back row grew up to be your keynote.
The back-to-school kickoff. Resilience, gratitude and perspective for a profession running on empty — funny enough that the veteran teachers put their phones down, honest enough that they remember why they started.
Every hard conversation with a parent starts with listening.
A working session on communication and connection for teachers, counselors and administrators. Practical principles for the classroom, the parent conference and the faculty meeting, with humor that keeps a PD day from feeling like one.
Bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria teams deserve a great night too.
Appreciation banquets, retirement dinners and support-staff conferences. Thirty to forty-five minutes of stand-up that celebrates the people who keep a school running, with your district written in.
Watch the TEDx Talk9 minutes. Why owning a perceived flaw builds confidence — the message he brings to every faculty.
Energetic, relatable, funny, and heartfelt. His ability to connect personally was truly impressive. Our team left motivated, renewed, and ready to begin the school year with enthusiasm.Dr. Mike HowardSuperintendent, Lee County Schools (AL)
I was even thanked multiple times (a rarity for a superintendent) for bringing him to speak.Bronwyn Ragan-MartinEarly County School System (GA)
The inspirational Jody Fuller enthralled an audience of nearly three hundred school administrators.Georgia Department of Education
Yes, and that is the point. Districts routinely put teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff and central office in the same gym for Jody. The material is clean and the message about resilience and being seen lands with every role in the building.
Jody arrives the night before for early starts, is on site before the doors open, and has kicked off dozens of 7:30 and 8 a.m. institutes. He also stays afterward — teachers who stutter, or who have students who do, always want a word.
Both are available. The convocation keynote is inspirational with practical takeaways. The PD version of Listen, Learn, Lead runs 60–90 minutes with a communication framework teachers apply to parent conferences and classroom management. Tell Jody which you need.
A wireless microphone, a stage or clear space, and one person to help with names and district wins on a short call the week before. No slides required. He can supply a short intro for whoever brings him up, or you can copy one from the Media Kit page.
Send your convocation or in-service date, district and headcount. Jody responds within one business day with availability and a quote.
Clean comedy and a real resilience message from the kid who stuttered in the back row. Response within one business day.
