Jeffrey Bates is an author and storyteller. In the last eight years he has published six fun, imaginative and engaging children's books which focus on character development.  His books address important topics of conversation such as "Why do I feel empty?" "What's it like to feel alone?" "Why are bullies like they are?" "What does it mean to look inside?" "When will I ever get enough?" "Can I make it through a dark time?" "Am I enough?"  These questions, and many others, arise throughout our lives and in the lives of our children, so his books make it easy for conversations around such topics to be had. His books are a source and inspiration for generating conversations about difficult SEL topics. 

Jeffrey will bring an expertise and acumen to each school as he coaches and collaborates with the teachers to set up powerful SEL environments in the classrooms of Jennings, Ferguson and Florissant Missouri.  His mission and goal is to guide teachers in St. Louis to lead the way by courageously bringing a deep focus on Character education back into the classroom. Jeffrey's model contained in The Little Bucket is sure to bring inspiration and a deep change to the classroom. Children cannot learn when they don't feel safe - we can help bring a new safety back to the classroom by creating a strong character education emphasis. The safety will not come by simply adding more metal detectors at school entrances, nor by employing more security officers on the playground. Safety will not come through our reactive system, but can through our proactive action.  This is Jeffrey's emphasis. It's time to see each other through the lens of character.

As Dr. King's stated, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." It's time we honor Dr. King's dream and reach down deep inside to find that our humanity is waiting for us. This shining opportune moment is a moment which history is rendering to us - to create the world we want - instead of react to the world we've been living in. It's time for us to be the change and challenge each other to be our best.