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Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis

*Exclusively Represented by AEI Speakers*

Former Sandy Hook Elementary Teacher, Founder Classes4Classes, Author of Choosing Hope

On Dec. 14, 2012, in the first classroom of Sandy Hook Elementary School, first grade teacher Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis endured unimaginable tragedy. The heroic teacher is credited with saving the lives of all 15 of her students by acting quickly upon hearing the sounds of gunfire and locking them all in a small bathroom until the ‘good guys’ came to let her know that it was over and they were now safe to come out.
—

Kaitlin M. Roig-DeBellis (https://kaitlinroigdebellis.org/) is the Founder & Executive Director of Classes 4 Classes, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization. Kaitlin founded Classes 4 Classes knowing that positive social change was needed, and that this needed to begin with the youngest members of our society, our K-8 students. Classes 4 Classes is a social networking tool, for every student in the United States to learn: compassion, caring, kindness, empathy, consideration, through active engagement. Classes 4 Classes has worked with over 15,000 students in 38 states. In 2022 they are expanding to all 50 states. Classes 4 Classes has been featured in People, O Magazine, Fortune, Glamour, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping and other national publications.

Kaitlin speaks to School Boards, Administrators, Teachers and High School and College students across the US and Canada as a keynote and commencement speaker. Kaitlin has addressed over 235,000 people in person and over 1.5 million virtually. Kaitlin is the author of ‘Choosing Hope: Moving Forward From Life’s Darkest Hours’ published by G.P. Putnam & Penguin. Kaitlin teaches 2 courses, one that she created, at Bay Path University as an Adjunct Professor. Kaitlin serves on the NEAG Alumni Association Board of Directors. Kaitlin is a Leadership Legacy Mentor at the University of Connecticut. She also sits on the Glam4Good Advisory board. In 2016 Kaitlin received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Kaitlin has worked in recruitment and admissions at both Bay Path University and UConn since 2018.

In 2015 Kaitlin was selected as one of the top 50 Educators in the world, by the Global Teacher Prize and the Varkey Foundation. In 2014 Kaitlin was selected as a Point of Light by President George W. Bush’s Foundation for her work. She also delivered a keynote address for ABC Family Literacy, Barbara Bush’s Foundation in Maine. Kaitlin was honored to attend the President’s ceremonial send off from Andrews Air Force Base, home to his final resting place.

In October 2014, Kaitlin received the alumni association’s Humanitarian Award from her alma mater, The University of Connecticut. In May 2014, Kaitlin received two Honorary Doctorate Degrees, one of Humane Letters from Bay Path University and the other of Public Service from Luzerne College. Kaitlin delivered a TEDx talk at UMass Amherst in April 2014. Kaitlin and her non-profit have been featured in People, Glamour, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan, as well as, on World News with Diane Sawyer, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Extra and Yahoo News!

In 2013 Kaitlin received the Dedicated Teacher Award from The Chicago International Conference on Education. Kaitlin writes educational blog posts for the Huffington Post weekly. Kaitlin also contributed to the book ‘Teaching From the Heart’ volume 2, published in May 2014. Kaitlin ran the NYC marathon, in honor of 12/14/12, and the lives lost.

In 2013 Kaitlin was honored as one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year along side Nobel Prize nominee Malala Yousafzai, Congresswoman and shooting survivor Gabby Giffords, and Emmy nominated actress Kerry Washington, among others. Previous Glamour Women of the year include Former First Lady and teacher, Laura Bush and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Also in 2013, Kaitlin was honored by L’Oreal Paris one of their “L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth” of which she was one of “10 Inspiring Women Making Beautiful Differences in their Communities”. Through Women of Worth, L’Oreal Paris is committed to recognizing women who are true to themselves and their passion of making a difference in their communities. L’Oreal Paris supports these inspiring women through a donation for their charity and by raising awareness for their causes.

In 2007 Kaitlin began teaching first grade at Sandy Hook Elementary School. There she served on the Math Committee, Language Arts Committee, Action Research Committee, and Social Committee. She also began Marathon Mondays, a running club for 3rd and 4th grade students.

Kaitlin began her teaching career as a Reading Specialist in Westport, CT in 2006. While there, she worked with first and second grade struggling readers. Kaitlin worked closely with teachers, and administration to implement strategies and action plans for these readers.

Kaitlin attended UCONN and was accepted to the NEAG School of Education, where she completed her Masters of Education with honors in 2006. She was a member of Order of Omega honor society, The Historical honor society and the NEAG honor society, and was named a New England Scholar in 2005. Kaitlin served as the Historian for the NEAG Student Association and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority where she served as Membership Chair, Recording Secretary, and on the Scholarship Committee. She worked as an intercollegiate athlete tutor to refine study skills and plan essays, as well as a study hall monitor for the UCONN Men’s Soccer team.

Categories: Campus, Children's Issues, Christianity, Educator, Educator - AEIs Most Popular Educators, Educator - Motivation and Inspiration, Educator - SEL Social Emotional Learning, Exclusive, Health Care, Health Care - Children and Health, Health Care - Inspiration / Survivor, Health Care - Leadership and Administration, Human Interest, Inspiration, Local to New England, Motivation, New to AEISpeakers, Philanthropy, Quality Virtual Keynote, Social Justice, TED Talk, Women's Groups

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Topics

  • Keynote: Resilience in the face of Uncertainty

    ‘Courage is acting in the face of fear.’ This is Kaitlin’s response anytime someone calls her a hero or shares how brave she was. It is a reminder to each of us that the ability to be courageous is to be able to act in the face of fear…anyway. This is the same for all of us, and how we come out on the other side of our hardships, is determined solely by us. Those moments of such uncertainty that we all find ourselves in, are the moments we can take our control back. We can define those moments for ourselves.

    We can decide to be destroyed by these moments or empowered by them. It is all within our perspective of how we choose to view our after, and so resiliency, those who end up resilient, are actually those who decide that they are empowered by their own uncertainty and adversity, not destroyed by it. Once you recognize that the power lies within you is the moment you become resilient!

  • Keynote: The Power of Choice

    Kaitlin will guide your group through how we choose to overcome the hard things that happen to us, and all of life’s uncertainties. That we have to be thankful in each moment, in each sunrise, in each embrace with a loved one. We simply don't know when it will be our last. If you can find the space in every moment to say, 'thank you', thank you that I'm here, thank you for this moment, thank you for bringing me here. Then you are aware of life's fleeting nature and of your need to be present in your life. You are aware that no matter what you endure you can choose to overcome it and be thankful. You can choose gratitude and turn your own hard time around!

    Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis endured one of the worst tragedies the world has ever seen. After, she had to make a choice. Life is all about choice, and the choice is yours alone to make. Kaitlin shares with her audiences the choices she has made with: purpose, passion, perspective, overcoming and hope, and encourages her audience members to do the same!

    Purpose & Passion:
    Kaitlin shares her own life passion and purpose as an Educator, as well as, how she was forced to re-define both after tragedy. Work to find and define your own life's purpose/passion, the impact of this on the world, and the power that purpose has always played in your life. How can you make the choice to redefine your purpose, during a difficult time. We can each take steps to move forward, not on, from our own hard stuff. Everyone is confronted with pain, sadness, evil, and we each have a choice how to react to it. You can let the pain define you, or you can define your own purpose and passion in the face of it. What choice will you make?

    Perspective:
    Kaitlin shares the impact perspective has had on her life, especially after enduring the events of December 14th. The things that happen to us, don’t have to define us. When something happens to you in life that you never thought would, that you weren't prepared for, your world shatters. You think to yourself, I can't go on. When you endure the unthinkable, the unimaginable, you're right...you can't go on, not the same way you always had. You must adjust, make changes, re-chart your course, and move forward. You must move forward with thought, conviction and purpose to make your life and those around you, whole. Good and bad both coexist. In any one moment you always have both, it is a choice which to focus on. Optimism is a choice.

    Overcoming:
    After the events of December 14th 2012. Kaitlin had to make a choice. She chose to focus on the abundant good, also around. She chose to focus on making sure that day didn't define her students or herself. She chose to get her control back. Ultimately, she chose to overcome.

    Power of Hope:
    In the best of times or the worst in your life, you can always choose to have hope. Having gone through the unthinkable, the unimaginable, many say to Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis 'if I were you I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning.' For her that IS why she gets up every morning. She refuses to let that day, that tragedy, define her life. Instead her life is her own, and she will define its course.

    Every morning that you wake up, you have a new chance to get it right, to make choices to live your best life. Hope is the driving force, it is the reason we embark on any task job or mission. Kaitlin encourages her audiences that 'no matter what you endure, you can always choose hope.’ You can always persevere!

    Kaitlin’s ‘Social Emotional Learning’ Workshop is a great addition to any event!

  • Keynote: Mental Health Awareness: It is OK to not be ok

    Fully feeling things is the key. We get nowhere when we push things down, aside or try to bury them. It is only through fully feeling our emotions after we have experienced trauma and hardship. Situations don’t always need to be tied up with a bow, like society often leads us to believe. The awareness and acknowledgment that something bad or hard has happened, and you are not OK as a result is liberating…freeing. Learn to recognize within yourself when you are in a space of not being OK, feel the feelings, cry the tears, it is only then that you can come out the other side, healed and wholly different than before…and THAT is OK.

  • Keynote for Hospitals Preparing for Trauma: Integrating Hopeful Thinking: How to Overcome

    There are many times in each of our lives where we find ourselves lost and alone. In these times we must have the strength to find the glimmer of hope, there always is one, and find a way to focus on it. In Kaitlin's life she has been reminded many times, and often during the toughest of times, that on any day there is always, always, always something to be grateful for-if you don’t believe it, just place your hand over your heart. It is this notion that has enabled Kaitlin to overcome her own adversities even when it seemed impossible. She encourages her audience members to do the same. The ability to overcome any trauma is found in focusing on what can be done and on the good that is (also) all around.

  • Keynote for Children's Hospitals: Shifting Your Perspective: How to Focus on the Good

    When we encounter the darkest, hardest times in our lives, or the lives of others it is very easy to focus on the darkness and the hardship. Instead Kaitlin encourages audiences in spite of the hard times to find the good that is also all around. Good and bad both co-exist and it is our choice which we wish to put our energy into. It is possible to shift our perspective from the impossible to the possible simply by adjusting the way we think. This is what Kaitlin imparts on all audiences.

  • Keynote: My Faith Carries Me Through

    On December 14th 2012 Kaitlin Roig's sense of security was shattered. Having stood on the brink of death, and having looked it in the eyes, she talks about what she experienced in those moments-and most importantly since. She talks about the power of prayer in those moments, and after. She discusses the role that faith and positive thinking have even during the most trying of times.

    Kaitlin shares how she overcame that trying time, by looking inward and through her strong faith in God and prayer. She shares the journey, how maddening it was to live like a prisoner in your own body-terrified of everything, until she focused on her faith. She shares how she came out on the other side, stronger. She shares this message, because hard times, grief and loss are universal, and that it is a choice of how we move forward with faith. You must move forward with thought, conviction and purpose to make your life and those around you, whole. Optimism is a choice. Faith is a choice. Kaitlin encourages her audiences to choose both.

  • Workshop: Choosing Hope

    In this workshop, audience members will personally explore the 5 key components outlined in Kaitlin’s book: Choosing Hope. The overview for each can be found outlined in Kaitlin’s topics, choice in relation to: purpose, passion, perspective, overcoming, and hope. You may choose which you would like your workshop to focus on-or a combination of 2.

    Life is, in fact, all about choice. That is the core of everything that we will discuss. No matter what situation you go through, or endure in your life you are the one who holds the control of how to react, or not to it. You alone hold the power. You also have the ability to help others to be aware of this in their own lives. When you are truly aware and you think in this way you can impact not only your own life- but everyone else's around you. You can instill an element of hope in someone who may feel despair or lacking of hope.

    It is by learning the principles of what 'Choosing Hope' means that you can change your life, and the lives of others. The choice is yours alone to make. We will begin by exploring and relating to each other’s own “darkest hours.” We will then strategically move through 5 key components, which will be the core of this class and that we will explore in depth.

  • Workshop: Social Emotional Learning

    Kaitlin will share with your school district various ways to incorporate engaging social curriculum ideas into your K-5 teachers' school day. This can include breakout sessions to work to create lesson and unit plan ideas. She will share her curriculum ideas and work with teachers to brainstorm ideas for their own students. An academic education is very important, equally so is a social curriculum to learn to work with, and care for one another.

    As educators, if we want our students to be caring, kind, loving, empathetic people, then we need to take the initiative to teach that. Students learn kindness by being kind, they learn to care by caring, and they learn empathy by being empathetic. Teachers need to create an environment where students learn to care for others not by talking but by doing, by being actively engaged. Then the message is cultivated that our lives are not separate, but in fact completely connected. When we teach kindness, compassion, love and empathy, there is no room for hate.

    This workshop will address:
    *Getting kids back on the in-person learning track
    *Making up for students lost time
    *Teachers needing to reset their teaching patterns from virtual and have empathy with students back in the classroom
    *Dealing with unruly behavior
    *Using differentiated instruction for students who may have been in the underserved community or were truant from virtual learning

Books

Choosing Hope: Moving Forward from Life's Darkest Hours
Choosing Hope: Moving Forward from Life's Darkest Hours

"Bad things happen to all of us, things that test us and impact us and change us, but it is not those moments that define us. It is how we choose to react to them that does." -Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis

On December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis saved the lives of fifteen six- and-seven-year-old students by piling them into a single-occupancy bathroom in her first-grade classroom. But Choosing Hope is not about what happened at Sandy Hook. It's a testament to the choice we can all make to choose hope in order to conquer tragedy, even in our darkest hours. Choosing Hope's five sections-Purpose, Perspective, Choosing Your path, Choosing to Overcome, and finally Choosing Hope-provide a clear and organized road map that will inspire and teach readers to overcome their own personal tragedies, whatever they may be. Like Kaitlin, who was able to find purpose and optimism in the most difficult of circumstances by improving the lives of those around her, readers will see how they can use the tenets of gratitude, endurance, purpose, and the power of choice to live positively and with hope.

You can purchase this book here

Testimonials

I’m so grateful to be in this conference. Kaitlin has changed my life. Thanks.

Government of Alberta Canada Conference

We had more than 18,000 people view our Facebook Page the day we posted about Kaitlin’s visit – the feedback was unanimously and overwhelmingly positive. Honestly, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to plan a more poignant or inspiring back-to-school program again.

Seneca Valley School District

Kaitlin was a very eloquent speaker who really captivated the audience’s attention.

SUBOG loved hosting Kaitlin Roig. She was very easy to work with. Her story is very inspiring and truly touched everyone who attended the event.

University of Connecticut

What an inspirational way to kick off a new year and the message by our guest speaker was phenomenal and should inspire all of us to dig a little deeper and give a little more- reach for the things that are lacking in today’s society!

Excelsior Springs School District #40, Staff

Kaitlin could not have done better. I have received countless emails from staff saying what an engaging & uplifting speaker she was. She set the perfect tone for the year.

Central Dauphin School District

Kaitlin was fantastic and a pleasure to work with! Many of our attendees have told us how much they enjoyed her talk.

United Way of Greater Plymouth County

Kaitlin did an awesome job! The feedback has been very positive as to her presentation and she very much met our goal of lifting our leaders spirits up during very challenging times. She couldn’t have done a better job with her style of speaking, slide deck and message of choosing hope. I would highly recommend her to anyone considering her for a speaking engagement.

Hardin Memorial Health

Couldn’t get any better. Wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

City of Atlantic City

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