"I cannot imagine telling you how you could improve....you are able to do things on the fly when necessary - always the consummate professional.  It is not just what you do on the stage that impresses the participants (teachers and students alike) it is how you engage the students between formal sessions as well.  You are always available, personable and approachable.  The students leave the conference wanting to "be you".  I cannot think of a better role model."

​Carolyn Branhart, 2009 New Brunswick Provincial Leadership Conference Coordinator. Teacher (retired 2023) at Fredricton HS, she arranged andy at the 2006 canadian national conference, 3 provincial conferences, and over 10 appearances at her high school! 

Andy's IMPACT Presentations for Conferences

“Making Care Contagious” is the mission of Andy’s student leadership programs. Combining motivational comedy, powerful stories, pep rally energy, and insights for classroom & leadership success, Andy will make an IMPACT at your conference!  A unique feature of Andy's training is that it is based on his experiences as a student leader in London, Ontario: The Vice President of Student Council at Nicholas Wilson Elementary/Middle school, the student council president of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in 1988 to 1989, a three-time orientation week leader at King's University College at Western University including being the 1992 Coordinator. 

Andy’s keynote presentations for conferences run 45 to 90 minutes in length, based on your needs. His most popular talk has him reminding delegates that "The Look Bounces Off Me! Dealing Positively with Negativity.”

Andy offers several leadership workshop options for students and their advisors. These are an excellent follow-up to his keynote as it empowers leaders & advisors with the "tools" to continue with his messages.

Both Andy’s keynote and workshops feature icebreakers and cheers that will get your delegates standing up every 15 minutes to laugh and participate. Every session with Andy has the feel and energy of a pep rally!

Andy can also deliver 15 to 60 minute Spirit Sessions of icebreakers that will get your participants laughing, cheering and participating! Many conferences book Andy to provide the opening session of Icebreakers or to act as an MC during multi day events and lead icebreakers before each general session. 

Why Hire Andy As Your Conference Speaker?

  1. Andy’s unique mix of professional speaking talent, over 32 years experience and actual student leadership experience helps elevate the energy, impact, and success of your event. He was a student leader at every school he attended. Andy provides hands-on leadership training with humour, inspiration, and energy.
  2. Andy personalizes each speech to reflect your conference’s school participants and your conference theme. He will work with you to ensure his message matches the goals of your event.
  3. Andy’s conference keynote and workshops are completely different from his school assembly options. Delegates who have seen him at their school will hear different material during his conference program.
  4. No Numb Bum! Andy’s specialty is getting audiences of all ages up several times during his programs to cheer, play and participate. It’s part pep rally, part leadership workshop, and part inspirational talk!
  5. Andy’s programs are adaptable for students from ages 11 to 25 and their staff advisors.
  6. Conference organizers love Andy’s 100%-time commitment to their event. He arrives early to greet delegates, enjoys meals with the participants, and spends time getting to know them, both students and teacher advisors, throughout the conference. He is available to help wherever needed – with icebreakers, fun trivia contests, cheers, and as MC.  He offers powerful workshops for both the student and adult delegates.

WHAT YOUTH CONFERENCES HAVE USED ANDY’S IMPACT PRESENTATIONS?

Andy has spoken at every Canadian provincial conference at least three times, the Canadian National conference 6 times, the USA National Conference twice, and 35 different USA state student council conventions. Youth organizations that have had Andy speak at their conferences include: Junior and Senior high school Student Council, US National Honor Society, Key Club (Youth Kiwanis), Rotary Youth, Future Business Leaders of America, 4H, SADD, Safe Schools Programs, Yearbook, Youth Athletics, Parks & Recreation Employees and College & University Leadership groups.

Recent examples:
CANADIAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP EVENTS
  • The Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC), for workshops every year since 1992
  • Nova Scotia Provincial conference for 13 times, including 2021.
  • New Brunswick Provincial conference for 7 times, including 2013. 
  • BC Provincial conference 8 times, including 2018 and 2023
  • Saskatchewan Provincial conference 6 times, including 2015
  • Alberta Provincial conference 7 times, including 2016 and 2024.
  • Newfoundland Provincial conference 6 times, including 2017 and 2024
  • Newfoundland Allied Youth provincial event 4 times, including the final conference in 2023. 
​USA SCHOOL LEADERSHIP EVENTS
  • Oakland Activities Association of high schools (Detroit area) conference 4 times, including 2023.
  • Saginaw Valley High School Association (Michigan) conference, 2023. 
  • Cleveland Area Middle School Catholic leaders conference four times, including 2016 and booked for 2025
  • Michigan Assoc. of Student Councils Regional Conferences over 15 times, including 2019 at Frankenmuth and 2017 in Detroit's northern suburbs. 

IMPACT Keynotes for Youth Conferences

KEYNOTE OPTION 1:  The Look Bounces off me! Dealing Positively with Negativity” 

We have all seen it when we are in a leadership role ... someone gives us the "look" of disapproval and we feel our enthusiasm for leadership fade a little. In this hilarious and life-changing keynote, Andy gives you effective strategies on dealing with negativity while inspiring care.  Andy reminds leaders that, "Care is contagious, but as a leader, it has to start with ME!"  From his own school and community leadership experiences, he offers realistic, easy-to-implement insights that will motivate you and your team! 
 
Andy’s presentations always include a mix of cheers, icebreakers, and group games. He will keep you laughing and moving while teaching engaging activities that you can use at your next event! He will keep the delegates active while giving them leadership skills that will inspire them to improve school spirit and increase participation. With fantastic online resources and videos, you will come away from Andy’s sessions with many tools to help you in your leadership journey!
 
“The Look – bounces off me!” This statement will resonate for years with your leaders. It reminds leaders that staying true to themselves, maintaining spirit, fun, & enthusiasm, and asking questions and truly listening are powerful examples of care for others to follow.
 
KEYNOTE OPTION 2: “Initiate Inclusion by Invitation” – Andy’s Three “I’s” of Building Community. 
 
“Inclusion is seeing differences, without seeing the difference.” – Andy Thibodeau, 2020
 
For 10 months in 2018-19, Andy’s family had three young women from Congo live with them until their housing situation was settled. The ongoing experience of being “Uncle Andrew” to new Canadians from Africa is hilarious, powerful, and insightful.  When you initiate inclusion by invitation, his family’s experience shows that the rewards go both ways – blessing the giver and receiver! From this experience, his work at the King’s College Peace Camp (a children’s program promoting understanding between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths), and working for 9 months in 2020 at Costco, Andy offers perspective to the following challenges: How can you initiate inclusion? What limits our courage to invite? How can one maintain enthusiasm for invitation and leadership when negative experiences and rejection challenge us in our schools and community? Include, invite, and lead by initiating! 

This Leadership Version of the program divides the training into these modules:
 
COURAGE – Action and Energy.  Barriers to Inclusion. Share Your Barrier. Share Your Story. Set the Example
COMPASSIONATE CHANGE – Patience. Inclusion. Service. Being Approachable. Initiating Change.
CONNECTION – Creating Community. Names. Small Talk to Smart Talk. Common Threads. Teamwork 
 
Leadership themes: Inclusion, Appreciation of Differences, Self-confidence, Communication Skills, Team Building, Community Service. INVITE, INCLUDE, but as leaders, we must be the example of courage to INITIATE

ICEBREAKER SESSION: “Mix & Mingle” 

Andy can deliver 15 to 60-minute Icebreaker Sessions that will get your delegates on their feet to mix and mingle, meet and greet, laugh and cheer!  Delegates will learn activities that can be shared with their school.
 
Many conferences have used Andy as an MC, where his stage presence and energizers assist with the smooth operation of the event.
 
SCHOOL STAFF KEYNOTE OR WORKSHOP - "The Impact of Educators”

In October of grade 9, Andy received a letter from his high school’s track and field coach “recruiting” him to be part of the team. That letter changed his life. Expect laughter and powerful reflection as Andy shares the lessons he learned from Coach Young and his efforts to connect with students. Coach Young was a leader in invitation and inclusion because he had the COURAGE to INITIATE.

Andy is the teaching profession’s #1 fan because of the difference teachers have made in his life.  It also helps that the mother of his children is a high school French & Computers teacher and that in 2022 he was a Supply teacher for all grades! This program is an empowering reminder to school staff about the difference they make with youth. 

Designed to be enjoyed by all school professionals, this presentation can run from 30 to 60 minutes to a half-day staff professional development session! This program can be a keynote for educators or as a workshop. It can be combined with his educator workshops on “Reliability” and “Making Care Contagious” outlined below.

After a school staff professional development day for 5 elementary schools in November 2022, Andy received this email:

Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent with us on Friday morning. Our staff left the session feeling uplifted and ready to take on the world. It was exactly what they needed, thank you!  We look forward to booking you to come speak to all of our students in the new year!

Erin Debicki, VP, St. Nicholas Catholic School, London 

IMPACT Workshops for Youth Conferences

WORKSHOP OPTION 1: "Making Care Contagious" 

School Spirit is caring, but how do leaders make this care contagious? This presentation draws from Andy’s experiences as a student leader and as a speaker traveling North America. He has developed 5 Habits that form the core of all successful student leadership activities. This hilarious and high-energy workshop gives hands-on advice on handling negativity; dealing with rejection; having the courage to be an example of good decisions; effective appreciation; communicating care; and improving event promotion and attendance. Follow Andy's 5 Habits to "get your care, out there!"
 
The session includes games and activities that can be shared with your school at your next meeting or assembly. 
 
Workshop format is completely flexible.  Andy can perform a 30 to 60-minute version as part of a workshop rotation or do a 2 to 4-hour version which includes group discussions, a question/answer sheet, and more icebreaker games.
 
Andy has a version of this program for school professionals designed as a “Train the Trainer” workshop for student council advisors and leadership teachers.
 
WORKSHOP OPTION 2: "Can I Count on You?" – Improving Your Reliability to Lead Yourself and Others

Execution of ideas is the number one challenge for leaders. This session will immediately improve the ability of your students to work together, improve their organization and time management skills, and execute ideas into action and activities! With all students, student leaders and staff balancing their time between school, family and work commitments, this program can transform how you and your team organizes their priorities!
 
This session addresses the concepts of time management from a unique perspective. Trust is the foundation for loving families, fun friendships, spirited students' councils, successful businesses, impressive customer service and effective leaders. Yet people earn the trust of another by being reliable. In “Can I Count You”, Andy offers useful and immediately applicable advice for improving reliability. Through his insights, Andy demonstrates how increased reliability improves one's time management, creates successful events, prepares students for success in class and the workplace, and inspires TRUST in you as a leader!
 
Workshop format is completely flexible.  Andy can perform a 30 to 60-minute version as part of a workshop rotation or do a 2 to 4-hour version which includes increased interaction, a question/answer sheet, and more icebreaker games. 
 
Andy has a version of this program for school professionals designed as a “Train the Trainer” workshop for student council advisors and leadership teachers.
 
WORKSHOP OPTION 3: "Initiate Inclusion by Invitation” – Andy’s Three “I’s” of Building Community.

This is the workshop program version of my Initiate Inclusion by Invitation. It can run from 30 minutes to 2 hours. See above for a summary.  

Andy has a version of this program for school professionals designed as a “Train the Trainer” workshop for student council advisors and leadership teachers.
 
 
WORKSHOP OPTION 4: “Let’s Talk!” - Effective Communication Skills for Youth Leaders  

Get "excited" about your next speaking opportunity! This session draws on Andy’s massive speaking experience, ranging from high school pep rallies and university orientation weeks to adult programs across North America. He offers realistic insights on: overcoming the fear (and how it is linked to self-esteem), putting more "you" into all of your communication, using the power of the positive, and how to visualize your improved speaking performances. Andy’s ideas are applicable whether you're communicating with one person or one thousand.
 
Workshop format is completely flexible and can run from 30 to 90 minutes.
 
JUNE 1, 2021
Andy spoke at our Nova Scotia province-wide online conference for high school students, Refresh 2021, which is usually held in person. The NSSSA has a long-standing relationship with Andy and we were so excited to welcome him back this year! (It was his 15th time keynoting the conference since 1992!) His keynote was catered perfectly to our theme and included wonderful stories that everyone could relate to in part. He is an invigorating speaker with the ability to make anyone smile and was the perfect closer for our conference. The presentation also included time to get our blood flowing so our attendees didn’t have to sit and stare at a screen the whole conference which was a nice added feature.

Angus Kennedy (attendee): “I found Andy's talk was both interesting and motivating, after hearing it I felt I could act in my community more positively having heard his experiences.” We look forward to continuing to build this strong relationship!

Katie MacLennon & Ella Stacey, Conference Co-Chairs 2021, VIRTUAL Nova Scotia Provincial Leadership Conference (for Secondary Students) 

I personally love your work. I saw you at the Ontario Student Leadership Conference (fall 2023) and I haven’t stopped thinking about your presentation since. I brought up your name to our board’s student senators and how I thought that you would be the perfect speaker for our symposium. We are very keen on leadership and School Spirit and we want a speaker like you who is very passionate and interactive with the audience.
 
Email, January, 2024, from Stella from Notre Dame College Secondary, Welland, Ontario.

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