When it comes to working with educators, Alex Kajitani is the real deal. With over twenty years of experience on the front lines of education, he knows what it takes to truly succeed as a teacher today.

Alex customizes every talk based on your needs, and is widely recognized as someone who is as engaging virtually as he is in-person! He speaks primarily on three topics within education: Teacher & Student Motivation, Teacher Leadership, and Effective Math Instruction. Scroll down for details on all of his talks.

Rave Reviews

Teacher & Student Motivation

Alex is dedicated to helping create highly effective teachers who love what they do, and is also a leading authority in training teachers to teach online. Throughout his presentations, he weaves inspirational stories with real, practical strategies that can be implemented the very next day.

Alex’s virtual and in-person sessions on this topic include:

Twenty years ago, Alex Kajitani was a struggling new teacher in one of California’s poorest neighborhoods. His students seemed unmotivated, unengaged and uninterested in what he was teaching. Demoralized and desperate, he set out on a journey to turn his class, and his life, around.

Today, Alex holds the title of California Teacher of the Year and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year, 2009, and is lauded for his innovation and “real talk” as an educator. His journey — from frustrated new teacher to being honored at The White House — is one he now shares with educators across the country, to inspire them to new heights and fresh ways of thinking about the students they serve and the subjects they teach. Alex tells refreshingly honest stories of what it truly takes to succeed as a teacher today, and interweaves them with real, easy-to-implement teaching strategies, which can be used the very next day, to create the world as it can be.

Teacher Leadership

Alex is one of the country’s leading authorities on Teacher Leadership, and has published articles on the topic in several leading education publications. His book, The Teacher of the Year Handbook, is being used by the country’s top Teacher Leaders to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to truly lead within our schools, and across our communities.

Alex’s talks on this topic include:

Twenty years ago, Alex Kajitani was a struggling new teacher in one of California’s poorest neighborhoods.  His students were unmotivated, unengaged and uninterested in the math he was teaching.  Demoralized and desperate, he set out on a journey to turn his class, and his life, around.

Today, Alex holds the title of California Teacher of the Year, 2009, and is a leading authority on teacher leadership. He now works with teachers, schools and districts to help teacher leaders develop the critical skills necessary to lead their colleagues at their schools, and throughout their communities. His journey, from frustrated new teacher to the White House Rose Garden, is one he now shares with Teacher Leaders across the country, to inspire them to fresh ways of thinking about leadership that and elevates our schools, communities and profession.

Effective Math Instruction

Looking for high-quality professional development for math teachers? Alex is passionate about helping to train teachers to be confident, excited and knowledgeable about math. His presentations will turn even a math-phobic teacher into one who is engaging and effective!

Alex’s talks on this topic include:

The ability to speak, read and write is now an essential part of math class. Teachers will explore, discuss, practice and reflect upon high-leverage strategies that are easy-to-implement, and will get our students on the path toward achieving the State Standards.

Specific topics to be covered include:

  • Inspiring students to talk about math in a way that is meaningful and relevant to their lives.
  • Getting students writing about math, and using math to argue, communicate and justify their thinking.
  • Teaching students to persevere in attempting, evaluating and solving “word problems.”
  • Addressing the negative stereotypes about math that exist in society, and how to combat them.
  • Engaging students with strategies, activities and games that can be used to teach the State Standards.