I remember school assemblies. The smell of the gym, the energy in the air, and the buzzing of the students – it was always one of my favorite days. I don’t know if it was missing class, having a motivational speaker at school, or the excitement of something different, but I loved a good assembly. As a speaker, school assemblies have become a valuable addition to my career. It is a privilege to encourage students in their dreams and remind them of their worth. I believe that these moments have the ability to change a student’s life, and that is why I wanted to give you some tips on making your school-wide assembly the most epic event ever! Set the motivational speaker and your school up for success by following these 5 game-changing tips:

1. The School Must Set the Expectation for the Students

What’s that saying… Kids will be kids, right? It is so important for the administration to set intentional expectations before the assembly really begins. Motivational speakers are not experts on your students or your school culture, but school faculty is! I encourage all schools to create a thoughtful pre-event script that lays out the dos and don’ts of the day. Think about phone policy, focused attention, behavioral interruptions, and so on and present it to everyone. 

When students are presented with freedom, some choose to misuse it. Having all staff and students on one page produces a level of harmony that might not be achieved otherwise. This is not about setting rules, but instead equipping everyone for an epic event. I always believe there is at least one student in the audience who truly desires a message that will help them become their best self. Setting expectations can help your speaker achieve this goal. And remember, this moment can be engaging and interactive. 

2. Have a Playlist

I love good energy and one way to produce that is with a solid playlist. If you want your school assembly to feel different than your typical mandatory event, shift the atmosphere with some tunes that can get the people moving. Music and youth just go well together. Play some entertaining music on the loud speaker for when the students enter/exit and during the transitions and just watch how they light up with excitement and expectation! 

As a motivational speaker, I appreciate when a school sets a lively atmosphere for me to be a part of. The wins are in the details, and though this might seem minor, it is a detail that could change the results of the event.

Here is a popular school playlist that you can use to get some inspiration. 

3. Hang Up Some Fun Posters Throughout the School

I went to a high school in Dallas, Texas for a speaking engagement and when I walked in the front doors of the school the first thing I saw were student-made posters with my quotes in big blue glittery letters lining the walls. Man, this got me hyped – not because it spotlights my work, but because students had the opportunity to get excited about what was ahead. It allowed them to almost understand me and what I wanted for them before I ever opened my mouth. When we set the stage for excellence, we typically get powerful results. Consider letting some art students get creative and hang up banners and posters in the cafeteria. Think about how this could look at your school and why there is value in it.

Because my team and I are so passionate about creating the greatest overall environment, we provide schools with themed posters to hang up two weeks prior to the event! 

4. Text or Email Event Details to the Student Body

If your school has the ability to mass text the students, do it! This goes back to setting the expectations and environment. The night before, send the student body a fun message reminding them of the school assembly with short details on their motivational speaker. This immediately builds credibility for the motivational speaker leading the event at your school and will allow them to start the assembly with a little more relational equity. 

Sample: Students, we are excited for you to attend our epic student assembly tomorrow at 12 pm. Charles Clark, a world-class athlete turned entrepreneur will be on campus tomorrow! Let’s show him some Warrior Pride. Get ready to THRIVE. 

5. Schedule a Call With Your Speaker 

This is hands down the most important tip when preparing a motivational speaker to come to your school assembly.The purpose of this call is to get you on the same page, and to go over important topics like message, theme, location, arrival, allotted time, concerns and special requests.  A 20-minute pre-event call can lead to a shift in your student body. As a speaker, I know schools put a lot of time and attention into the assembly for their students. The job of the motivational speaker is to partner with the school to help them execute their vision. 

Alright, now it’s time for you to get out there and make your event epic with the best motivational speaker for your school!

If you are looking for a motivational speaker for schools, I would love to hear from you. So, feel free to check my availability here.