Alan Blankstein

Educational Leader, Award-Winning Author, Documentary Producer

Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
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Alan Blankstein Biography

Award-winning author and educational leader, Alan Blankstein served for 25 years as President of the HOPE Foundation, which he founded and whose honorary chair was Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A former “high-risk” youth, he began his career in education as a music teacher. He worked for Phi Delta Kappa, March of the Dimes, and founded Solution Tree in 1987, directing it for 12 years while launching Professional Learning Communities beginning in the late 1980s. He is the author of the best-selling book "Failure Is Not an Option®: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement in High-Performing Schools," which received the Book of the Year award from Learning Forward.

Alan Blankstein is Senior Editor, lead contributor, and/or author of 18 books, including "Excellence Through Equity" with Pedro Noguera. He also authored around 20 articles in leading education print including Education Week, Educational Leadership, The Principal, and Executive Educator. His work has not only spanned writing but also impactful visual contributions, such as producing the multi-award-winning documentary "Petersburg Rising." Alan has provided keynote presentations and workshops for virtually every major U.S. educational organization, and internationally in the UK, Africa, and the Middle East.

Alan Blankstein has served on the Harvard International Principals Centers advisory board and the Jewish Child Care Agency, where he once was a youth in residence. Beyond his writing and speaking, he has been a superintendent of three different K-12 school districts, providing educational leaders with effective structures, systems, and best instructional practices. His presentations often discuss the critical nature of leadership and trust-building in education, emphasizing equity and high-performing school cultures, and illustrating his doctrine that "failure is not an option" in educating children.

Alan Blankstein Speaking Topics

  • Failure Is Not an Option ®: Six Principles of Highly Effective School Teams

    This presentation focuses on how to build leadership communities within and between schools and districts, how to create schools where failure is not an option, and what it takes to turn schools around and continually improve schools and entire districts that are already good. Content is based on two decades of research and one decade of field-tested practice in districts throughout the world – much of which is encapsulated in the award-winning Failure Is NOT an Option ®, (Third Edition released at the Convention) and the newly released The Answer is in the Room: How Effective Schools Scale Student Success. It’s not about Common Core – it’s about Common Implementation. While CCSS, Professional Standards, RTL and many other initiatives du jour have our attention, the secret to tackling them all is in the lead team that is capable of shaping school culture and advancing instruction system-wide. This requires relational trust, clarified purpose, and a common language, method and framework for action. This engaging, humor-studded session is for leaders at all levels. It provides a foundation for creating a high-performing school culture, and leadership teams throughout the district capable of handling almost any challenge.

  • The Answer is in the Room Where Failure is Not an Option®: A Foundation for Creating a High-Performing School Culture

    Presentation on how to build leadership communities within and between schools and districts, how to create schools where failure is not an option, and what it takes to turn schools around and continually improve schools that are already good. The session is for everyone and is an engaging, humorous keynote that provides a foundation for creating a high-performing school culture based on Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles that Guide Student Success in High-Performing Schools. Examples go from teaching to leadership strategies. Content is based on two decades of research and one decade of field-tested practice in districts throughout the world – much of which is encapsulated in the award-winning Failure Is Not an Option ®, and the newly released The Answer Is in the Room: How Effective Schools Scale Up Student Success.

  • How Quality Changed the Course of US Education, How We’ve Lost Direction & What’s Next

    The “quality movement” in U.S. education began in the late 1980’s and soon became what is now commonly called Professional Learning Communities. Award-winning author and Founder of both Solution Tree and the HOPE Foundation, Alan Blankstein has the inside story on the rise of this movement, where it is today, and a vision of what is on the horizon. Backed by two decades of practical research and field-tested approaches and drawing from his classic texts Failure Is Not an Option and The Answer is in the Room, Blankstein provides a clear, compelling picture of what is possible in these challenging times and how to go to the next level.

Alan Blankstein Videos

  • Petersburg Rising Official Sizzle Reel
  • How I Became Involved in Equity - Alan Blankstein - YouTube
  • One on One with JC Hayward - Alan Blankstein - YouTube

FAQs on booking Alan Blankstein

  • How do I book Alan Blankstein to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Alan Blankstein for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Alan Blankstein, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Alan Blankstein or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Alan Blankstein

    Speaking fees for Alan Blankstein, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Alan Blankstein are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Alan Blankstein, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Alan Blankstein speak about?

    Alan Blankstein is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Education, Education Reform, Educational Motivational, Government.
  • Where does Alan Blankstein travel from?

    Alan Blankstein generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Alan Blankstein for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Alan Blankstein for your next private or corporate function.
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Alan Blankstein is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Failure Is Not an Option ®: Six Principles of Highly Effective School Teams, The Answer is in the Room Where Failure is Not an Option®: A Foundation for Creating a High-Performing School Culture and How Quality Changed the Course of US Education, How We’ve Lost Direction & What’s Next. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alan Blankstein for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Alan Blankstein generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tom Vander Ark, Doug Lemov, Jaime Casap, Liz Dozier and Keith L. Brown. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Alan Blankstein for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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