Denise is a speaker and author known for her book "30 Second Moments And The Women Who Raised Me."
Denise's journey highlights the incredible power of brief, meaningful interactions—what she calls "30-Second Moments." Growing up in the face of abuse, she found resilience through the small yet profound connections made by teachers, counselors, and a coach. In those simple moments, their quiet acts of kindness helped her to feel seen and worthy. Those were the moments that helped her to rewrite the story she was born into to become the success story she is today.
Through her story, Denise not only honors the educators who made a difference in her life but also emphasizes the broader impact teachers have beyond the classroom. Her message serves as a reminder that in every teacher lives a hero they never knew existed. By celebrating the heroes in education, we are showing those everyday educators that we see them and that they are valuable to the kids in their classrooms.
“It is so valuable to hear first person perspective in these talks. Really helps you to see people as whole, makes it so muchmore real than reading it or watching a pre made film. Any one of us could have been you, any kid in this school could be you right now. Made me really think. Thank you.”