Dr.
from
MDM Records,
THE
WORLD’S FOREMOST MUSICAL
COMMENTATOR
ON AMERICAN EDUCATION
Dr.
audiences internationally for his unique
keynote and workshop presentations. Stimulating
thinking through humor, movement, interaction and
original music, his creative approach is
enthusiastically received by educators, parents and
students. Monte
is an experienced teacher
and principal, former leadership columnist
for National Middle School Association’s
magazine Middle Ground –and currently associate professor of school
leadership in the
Teachers College at
inspiring …
talented … thought provoking … a combo of Bill Cosby, Garth Brooks,
and Shel Silverstein
… passionate … and
very, very funny!”
Monte is widely recognized for his talent
as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Several
critically acclaimed album releases (MDM
Records,
Them When They Fall, Peer Pressure,
and My Dad Is A Superintendent.
His
collaboration with Michelle Selby produced
the popular children’s book and CD titled
Sounds Like The Truth. Monte’s latest CD, In The Teachers Lounge (2006), features
a long list of notable musicians and #1
hit songwriters. Because
You Teach (2006), from
Incentive Publications features Monte’s
music in a dynamic new staff development book.
Monte’s music also appears on network
television, radio, pod casts, websites, original stage
productions, programs, videos, books, and
at national and international conferences.
well as local CASA, Arts Council, and
Interagency Boards. He worked as a staff member
for the Governor’s Center for Teen
Leadership and the Council for Public School
Improvement. He volunteers as an NCA
Visiting Chair and in his own children’s classrooms.
Monte lives in
and daughters Madison & Morgan.
www.monteselby.com
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
What educators say about
♫ I have never written a fan letter in my life,
but I feel compelled to let you know how much
I enjoy listening to your CD My
Dad Is A Supt. I find the songs, not only delightful, but
several of them are enduring pieces that extend beyond
education. Your singing is a treat
and if that's your brother Mark's lead guitar work,
tell him it’s superb. Jeff from
♫ Greetings from
returned with renewed spirit thanks to the many things
you said that inspired us. I just
finished listening to your Peer
Pressure CD which was truly wonderful. I couldn't stop
crying during the "Look Me In The Eye" song.
It was as if you were singing about me, to
me and for me and so from the bottom of my heart I
THANK you!!!! It was as if you went
inside my head and brought out my thoughts about
living in a wheelchair, and how all
people including adults tend to be intimidated with
those of us who are "different". Keep
doing the work that you are doing – you are awe
inspiring. Nicole from
♫ Just got to hear Monte for the first time!
What a great experience…Jeb from Alabama
♫ I recently ordered all three CD's
and they came in yesterday. While listening to all of them,
I laughed, cried, howled, deeply soul
searched, questioned myself, praised the job educators
do, etc. Your music touched every emotion
this principal has…. Keep it up. You're a gifted
songwriter and storyteller. Sue
from
♫ He is a "heavy hitter" in addressing
middle school issues. From laughter to very serious …
all through his music. Clarke from
♫ Outstanding ideas on how to motivate staff…Mark from Wisconsin
♫ Thanks for your inspiring performance
yesterday! I wish I could have had a chance to visit
with you but you were surrounded by your fans! …
Anyway, your message on Sunday was
terrific! I firmly believe in everything you
talk about. … Thanks again for a wonderful
presentation. You are NUMBER ONE in my
book! Tom from
♫ Only someone who has worked with kids in a
school setting could possibly have put those
songs together. I was so impressed by your ability to
put words so succinctly and "hit the
target", song after song. Your ability to play
the guitar and your voice –there's no other
word than - WOW!!
Sheila from
♫ “I attended the NSMA Concert and was blown away”…Belinda
from Australia
♫ “Wow, you did
indeed pull out the stops! It was
terrific. I've heard a lot of positive
comments
in the past week.
Thanks for going above and beyond expectations to pull together such a
tremendously talented
group of people”…Jim from Indiana
Featured Presentations by
European League of Middle Level Ed Conference,
National Convention,
▪ National PTA Conf,
Parents, Teachers, and Students
Middle Level Leadership,
▪
Bolts Conf,
Staff Dev,
City Schools,
Admin,
Ventnor, NEW
Assoc. of Ed Service Agencies, National Conf,
Artist in Residence,
School for the Deaf ▪ State Middle Level Conf:
Residence,
ESC,
Department of Ed,
Leaders,
schools,
Curr.
Camp,
School
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
MONTE SELBY PRESENTATION
OVERVIEW AND GUARANTEE
Monte's sessions are not another memorized lecture on
the problems in schools. Rather,
he specifies each keynote, staff development, or
student presentation to the particular
needs and goals of his audience and guides them toward
solutions and new perspectives.
At the core of every presentation is a message of
optimism and courage for seeking new
avenues to student potential. Educators, parents, and
students note Monte's unique ability
to engage diverse audiences in open and involved
discussions.
Monte prepares for each unique audience, requesting
information such as:
• age of the audience, number attending, length of
time for presentation
• school or conference goals/objectives/outcomes for
each audience
• the room: auditorium, gym, classroom, table/chair
arrangement?
Most of Monte's presentations have been offered as 45 –
120 minute sessions, and many
as full-day workshops.
Presentation strategies will reflect the time and space available.
Throughout the
kindergarten through graduate school, and with
parents, staff, administrators, and
community groups.
His use of music, humor, movement, research, story and enthusiastic
interaction has consistently earned him exemplary
evaluations from participants and
frequent spontaneous standing ovations. His work comes with a risk-free guarantee –
if
the school/conference coordinator is not fully
satisfied with the quality of Monte’s work,
he’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill the original
expectations and agreed upon outcomes!
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Monte’s keynote addresses are typically utilized at
conferences, back-to-school events,
and mid-year motivational sessions. He will help establish a clear focus on
children, and
the potential educators have for positive impact. The songs, stories and activities share
common themes of optimism, courage, and the critical
need for fun and laughter. He not
only reaffirms that each individual can make an
important difference, but also relates
valuable concepts that help promote professional
effectiveness.
CREATING A BEST DAY EVER (keynote description example)
strategies to explore the importance of
creating a vision for a "Best Day Ever." Selby is
an experienced middle school teacher,
principal, professor, and father of four who
believes that educational staff having a
great day can change a student's educational
experience forever.
CREATING AN EVENT THEME SONG (more music?)
Conference and school planners often utilize Monte’s
writing talents to create a dynamic
and personalized closure to the event. He talks to participants about current
educational
issues and ideas, group nuances and themes – and then
transforms those thoughts to song.
Often accompanied by projected digital photos or
video, this approach has turned the
dreaded “closing time” into an inspiring and fun
end-of-event highlight.
SONGWRITING ON THE EDGE! (Need a social activity?)
Feeling creative?
Ever helped write a song? Got a
great story about kids, teachers,
parents, or administrators? Thinking of a funny song title that needs a
verse and chorus?
Want to laugh until it hurts? Join
who has been writing and performing songs about
schools for two decades.
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
MONTE SELBY SESSIONS FOR
EDUCATORS
throughout the
All sessions are engaging, interactive, and focused on
practical applications.
Because You Teach:
Participants will engage in powerful staff development activities
provided in the new book from Incentive
Publications titled, “Because You Teach”.
The book combines the music and ideas of
nationally known experts Rick Wormeli,
Debbie Silver, and Kathy Hunt-Ullock.
Participants will practice skills and
strategies for dynamic staff development.
One More Last Chance: Some students
make mistakes and need another chance.
For the more intensive behaviorally challenged,
educators need skills and strategies.
This session is for those who want to “teach”
responsibility and reduce misbehavior.
I Want My Mama: Not just MY
mama! We can use more moms and dads at
school. This session describes powerful programs and
strategies that involve parents
in meaningful and empowering ways. Expect to interact, brainstorm, and analyze.
Maintaining Morale In
Tough Times: Truly meaningful efforts to improve schools
are time consuming,
stress inducing, and promote conflict.
In this session, participants
explore options (and skills) for keeping the learning
and teaching environment healthy
(and fun) in ways that support school improvement and
preserve teacher sanity.
MSM: Welcome to an unforgettable
classroom MSM, or Middle
School Matters,
is the just-released work of Monte Selby, Randy
Thompson, Debbie Silver, Rick
Wormeli, and Kathy Hunt-Ullock—who
take “innovative” and “engaging” to the next
level! After
selecting a handful of Monte’s songs that are favorites with 10-15 year
old students, they add powerful academic, social, and
leadership activities that require
deep thinking, movement, research, respect,
interaction, and laughter! Come explore
Incentive Publication’s new book (with CD) titled: Middle School Matters.
Redefining Leadership: Some schools involve students and staff in
new ways that
move leadership from a “position” to an “action” for
everyone. What happens in
locations where students do a better job of improving
their school, rather
than fulfilling images of “apathetic, whining,
disrespectful, spoiled little….!”
The Beat of the Brain: Powerful new research suggests music is more than
singing and dancing.
For many students, music is the rhythmic soul of learning.
This unique session is for all educators, parents, and
students-Not just musicians.
Creativity and
Collaboration Contrary to popular
belief, creativity is not simply
a born-with-it gift reserved for a select few. Similarly, collaboration is not reserved
for “nice” people who always get along. Crabby people can collaborate! Creativity
can be the result of strategic planning! After studying hit songwriters, famous
coaches,
and master teachers, participants will leave better
equipped and intellectually refreshed!
The Best Years: (For Parents!)
Despite the legends of "those middle
school
years", students and parents can
create some of their best memories together
between elementary and high school.
strategies, and a bit of research to
support the idea that these can be some of the
very best years. Don't miss this
chance to laugh, think, and prepare!
More
for some of his most introspective and revealing
songs. Monte will share what
inspired each song, perform “unplugged”, then
entertain questions and comments.
MONTE SELBY
PRESENTATIONS FOR STUDENTS
Middle and High School Conferences and School Assemblies: Large group
presentations provide an opportunity for Monte to
utilize music, humor, activities,
and interaction to help students consider healthy
choices, peer interactions, and
individual attitudes.
Early Childhood and Elementary Assemblies: Younger
students love the chance to
join Monte in singing traditional and original
songs. While juggling basketballs,
exploring
varied instruments, and “role-playing”, Monte
playfully guides students to consider issues
regarding homework, being a good friend, learning from
mistakes, healthy attitudes, and
more. And yes,
he closes his super-high-energy assembly with a quiet and focused
sing-along that lowers student energies and leaves
them ready for the classroom!
Making Writing a Hit: Monte often works “in the
classroom” with grade 5-12 students.
Using his co-writing experiences with
professional, #1 hit songwriters, Monte will help
students see how their writing can be
improved by looking at the craft of writing songs.
Students collaborate "on the
spot" to create a song, and then relate effective songwriting
skills to their classroom essays, poetry,
and other compositions.
Preparing for the Transition: Students preparing to
transition from elementary to
middle or highschool often
have particular fears, questions, and false perceptions.
Monte’s full-day event helps students sort out fact
from fiction, and focus on strategies
that tend to make transitions much more
successful. This is not a lecture. Instead, the
activities, music, and interaction provide
opportunities for students to laugh, reflect, and
consider personal choices that impact future success.
Solving Problems without Whining!: Many students lack skills to move from “whining”
to active problem solving. Monte helps students practice brainstorming
school
strengths/concerns, prioritizing issues, creating
strategies, and organizing for implementation
and evaluation. Students develop a unique plan and
understand a process for initiating positive
change. They
leave knowing who does what by when.
Open Music Forum: Schools can arrange for Monte to spend time
with students who
have a particular interest in music and/or
writing. Students can inquire about the
music
industry, how songwriters make money, get published,
improve musicianship skills, etc.
Composer in Residence: This comprehensive program requires extensive
planning.
Teachers at a particular grade level conclude poetry
or writing units by incorporating
Monte's activities on writing and music
composition. Students select favorite
writings
of their peers to co-write new songs with Monte. These compositions can be incorporated
into an evening activity for parents. Monte records the music and provides a “live”
CD.
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
CONCERT OPTIONS
For large group events,
concert designed specifically for the intended
audience. Past concerts have included
hit
recording artists, Grammy award winning songwriters,
emerging artists, national circuit
comedians, touring musicians, and legendary studio
players.
Vanguard Record’s MARK SELBY (Monte’s brother) is a virtuoso guitarist and dynamic
live artist who has shared
the stage with B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Delbert McLinton, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Collective Soul, Levon Helm,
Junior Brown, and
others. Mark has written more than 10
top-40 singles including four
#1 hits (including the Dixie Chick's smash hit “There's Your Trouble” and Kenny Wayne
Shepherd's “Blue
On Black” - Billboard's Rock Track of the Year in 1998).
"An
electrifying performer”
(Blues Revue), “The music does the talking" (Rolling Stone),
“Tracks with more groove
than a vintage vinyl record” (American Songwriter).
Backing up Monte, Mark, and other performs is the
option of an ALL-STAR BAND.
Made up of musicians who also tour with current and
legendary rock, jazz, and country
Superstars, the band brings to the show an “up close
and personal” connection with
world-class musicianship.
Monte and the other performers will provide autographs
and opportunities for interaction.
“I attended the NSMA Concert and was blown
away”…Belinda from
“Wow, you did
indeed pull out the stops! It was
terrific. I've heard a lot of positive
comments
in the past
week. Thanks for going above and beyond expectations to pull together such a
tremendously
talented group of people”…Jim from
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
MONTE SELBY PLANNING PAGE
CHECKLIST
List is intended to provide assistance – NOT a list of
"demands"
DOES MONTE KNOW:
A simple mic stand – no
podium. Regular microphone - not
cordless.
Stage or riser needed? Quality sound equipment
obtained?
OUR MISSION:
To fully engage participants in a highly motivating,
deeply inspirational, yet practical learning
experience
for the purpose of increasing their personal and
professional effectiveness and enjoyment.
HOW WE OPERATE:
* Focus on THEIR needs * Have fun * Seek feedback
* Provide more than expected * Model the ideal
* Involve family
* Follow up unexpectedly
* Practice the ethics of optimism, courage, and
charity
IMPROVING OURSELVES:
* Define and empower roles * Train and support
* Play to individual strengths * Plan creatively
* Evaluate feedback
*Listen well *Embrace ideas
* Support fun and social activity despite $ cost
Contact: Mark Meckel
mark@monteselby.com 615.327.4425
Review of
By Charlene Blevins Nashville's Music Row Magazine
And finally, it’s my unique pleasure to tell you about
a very unusual musical offering,
but possibly one of the most important I’ve ever given
space to in these pages. …
The music….comes in a delightful variety of styles, and
from a strong, clear voice and
real songwriter skill.
Cuts include a sweet, sad tune about a disabled child
(“Look Me In The Eye”); a teenager struggling to keep
his head above water
(“Bad Bunch of Kin”); and the title track, a funky;
raping number, written by Selby,
his brother Mark, and Tia Sillers….and “I Cried One Night,” the most affecting and
frankly, astonishing song here..and
it’s breathtaking: “I cried one night
when it was
dark outside/and no one heard/ and my
mind played tag with the wind.” Wow.
Get your own copy and read the rest of it. It’ll
change you. Peer Pressure is for
everyone involved in education, and anyone involved in
the raising of a child.
Is there anything more important?
Monte Makes Duke TIP
Memories
By Marcia Law (Kansas Association for the Gifted,
Talented
& Creative newsletter)
The first Sunday in June has been Duke TIP recognition
for the past few years. …
Why, you ask, would 500 kids and their parents be so
willing to go so far so
early in the morning? The answer is simple-
Just as always, the laughter and merriment begins as
soon as he picks up his guitar,
with young teens laughing about school, their parents,
and even themselves.
He is instantly captivating, weaving stories about
himself and youngsters
(including his own) with light-hearted yet intensely
thought provoking songs.
It’s almost magical as the entire audience soon
becomes of one mind-that
of a middle-schooler.
Parents happily grin and nod in agreement as he reminisces
about awkwardness, hormones and looking for ways to
fit in. The kids are
delighted to know they are not alone with the same
feelings yet seemingly
surprised to find mom and dad had those thoughts as
well…..
The ovations began as soon as he finished. We were now
left to remember
his discerning messages. All seemed to have loudly
clapped; many lingered
for an autograph, and several purchased his CD.
Educators describe this
exceptional Emporia State professor as ‘motivating,
practical, and thought provoking’.
But on Duke TIP Sunday,