One of the most sought-after speakers for transforming the attitudes
of at-risk student populations in America!
KEYNOTES / WORKSHOPS
Closing the “Attitude” Gap: How to Fire Up Your Students to Strive for Success
Principal Kafele provides educators with strategies for closing the attitude gap – the gap between
those students who have the will to strive for academic excellence and those who do not - toward
the elimination of the achievement gap, while simultaneously challenging them to look honestly at,
and within themselves toward ensuring student success.
“Your keynote provided the perfect opening for our school teams. What was so impressive is that on
subsequent days of the conference, participants referenced many of the strategies that you shared with
them. On the daily evaluation, inspiring, encouraging, motivating and empowering were examples
of comments by participants. One participant said, ‘He is the Michael Jordan of the principalship!’”
Executive Directors, Regions 1, 2, 3 & 5, NJ Regional Achievement Centers
Motivating, Educating and Empowering the Black Male Learner
Recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on professional development strategies for
motivating Black males, Principal Kafele will share proven strategies he used over his twenty-one
year “mission” as a public school teacher and principal which inspired thousands of his Black male
students to consistently soar academically. Strategies for developing a “Young Men’s
Empowerment Program” in your school or district will also be discussed.T
“Thank you for presenting at the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute. You were
inspirational! I so appreciate your passion and enthusiasm for kids. You represent
what is best and brightest in public educational leadership. Best wishes as you
continue to change lives.”
Kelly B. Wittman, Principal,Yorktown High School,Yorktown, IN
The Principal 50: Critical Leadership Questions for Inspiring Schoolwide Excellence
Principal Kafele says that building a learning environment that inspires schoolwide excellence can
never be overstated. He challenges principals, assistant principals and aspiring principals to look
critically within themselves through reflective questions about their leadership practices relative to
how they inspire energy, excitement and enthusiasm for learning throughout their buildings daily.
Creating a School Climate & Culture that Yield High Academic Performance
Principal Kafele provides school leaders with strategies toward developing a school climate and
culture that are conducive to high academic performance. Principal Kafele contends that
regardless of the skill and ability levels of the teachers and administrators in the building, if they are
operating within a toxic school environment, the probability for the school to perform at an optimal
level diminishes exponentially.
Contact Principal Kafele today to speak at your next conference,
inservice, event or program by:
Phone: (201) 424-0201
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.principalkafele.com
Join Principal Kafele on Social Media
Twitter @principalkafele • LinkedIn/Principal Kafele • Facebook/Principal Kafele is on FIRE
About Principal Kafele
A highly-regarded urban public school educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal
Kafele distinguished himself in the classroom and as a school leader. As an elementary school
teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County
Public Schools Teacher of the Year. As a principal, he led the transformation of four different
schools, including “the mighty” Newark Tech, which went from a low-performing school in need of
improvement to recognition by U.S. News and World Report Magazine as one of America's best
high schools. Currently, Principal Kafele is one of the most sought-after speakers for transforming
the attitudes of at-risk student populations in America. He is the author of seven books on this topic
which include his national best-sellers, Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in
Life, Closing the Attitude Gap and his recently released title, The Principal 50: Critical Leadership
Questions for Inspiring Schoolwide Excellence. He is also the recipient of over one hundred
educational, professional and community awards which include the National Alliance of Black
School Educators Hall of Fame Award, the Milken National Educator Award, the New Jersey
Education Association Award for Excellence and the City of Dickinson, Texas proclaiming February
8, 1998 as Baruti Kafele Day.
Past Presentations (Partial List)
Little Rock School District Professional Development Conference, Little Rock, AR , LAUSD Closing the Achievement Gap Conference,
Los Angeles, CA , Reaching High Conference, Colorado Springs, CO , National Title I Association, Tampa, FL , National Black Child
Development Institute, Atlanta, GA , ASCD Annual Conference, Chicago, IL , Illinois Association of Title I Directors Annual Conference,
Springfield, IL , National Middle School Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN, Louisville Urban League Education Summit, Louisville,
KY , National Education Association, New, Orleans, LA , Youth Build Instructional Leadership Institute, Boston, MA , Michigan
Association of Secondary School, Principals, Traverse City, MI , National Association of Secondary School Principal, Reno, NV, New
Jersey, Dept. of Education Effective Practices Conference, Princeton, NJ, New York State School Boards Association Annual
Conference, New York, NY, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Improvement Conference, Winston-Salem, NC, Columbus City
Schools Teacher Retreat, Columbus, OH , Pennsylvania Education Association Minority Leadership, Training Conference, Gettysburg,
PA , High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference, Nashville, TN , National Alliance of Black School Educators, Dallas, TX ,
Chesapeake Public Schools Title I Conference, Chesapeake, VA , Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development,
Williamsburg, VA , Learning Forward Annual, Conference, Seattle, WA, St. Maarten ASCD Conf., St. Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), St.
Thomas / St. JohnProfessional Development Conference, St. Thomas (U.S.V.I.)
Essential Tools for Today’s Educators by Principal Kafele
Understand why lack of proficiency in reading, writing,
and math among Black males is a symptom of deeper
problems that are generally ignored. Discover strategies
you can put into your daily practice right away to improve
their performance.
Principal Kafele provides educators with strategies within a
framework for closing the attitude gap – the gap between
those students who have the will to strive for academic
excellence and those who do not – toward the ultimate
elimination of underachievement in their classrooms.
Being a school principal is tough, and if you’re a current or
aspiring principal who occasionally questions why you took on
this career or how you can get better, here is the perfect book
to help you reflect, restore, and reenergize your work.