Chaz Perez

High Impact Youth Speaker!

09/08/2026

Never underestimate the power of a moment. A student may forget the lesson you taught, the announcement you made, or the policy you enforced—but remember for years the moment you noticed them, spoke their name, or reminded them that they mattered. What feels ordinary to us may become extraordinary to someone who desperately needs to be seen.

Research supports what great educators already sense: relationships are not separate from education; they help make education possible. Positive student–teacher relationships are strongly connected to student engagement and improved achievement. Even something as brief as intentionally greeting students at the door has been shown to increase academic engagement and reduce disruptive behavior. Small exchanges, repeated consistently, become culture. (SAGE research⁠)

Here is my challenge to every school leader: do not become so consumed with running the building that you miss the people standing inside it. Look up. Slow down. Learn a name. Offer encouragement. Thank a coworker. Give a student thirty seconds of undivided attention. You may not recognize the moment that changes someone’s day—or even redirects their life—so make every small exchange count.

Igniting the power to turn pain into passion for students, educators, and caring adults!