Many of my past September articles have been devoted to themes related to education and school climate. A major catalyst for this choice is that almost all of my presentations during August and the beginning of September are for staff, faculty, and administrators in schools or school districts as they prepare for the new school year (also, this summer I enjoyed speaking with a very welcoming faculty at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois). Although I present at educational settings throughout the year, there is a greater concentration during this five-week period. A benefit for me at these presentations is that I have an opportunity to hear directly from teachers and administrators about the issues that are at the forefront of their interests and concerns. Since almost all of my invitations to speak come from educators who are aware of my writings on such topics as mindsets, motivation, resilience, and teacher-student relationships, it is not surprising that I am often asked to address these subjects during my talks. Invariably I am requested to highlight the importance of the teacher-student relationship and the need to enrich social-emotional skills in the classroom. Several who heard my keynote at this past…
