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Empowering YOU to Shine!
School Programs with Laura Duksta
Sparking the Power of Love and Literacy
Laura Duksta is a TEDx speaker, Ambassador of Love, and author of the New York Times bestseller, I Love You More, whose books have sold over one million copies worldwide and are cherished in homes and classrooms across generations.
For almost twenty-five years, Laura has visited schools, helping students discover their inherent worth, embrace their uniqueness, and understand the power of love, kindness, and resilience in their lives.
Through storytelling, interactive experiences, and heartfelt connection, Laura creates programs that students remember long after the assembly ends.
Program Overview
An Experience Students and Educators Remember
Laura’s school programs help students tune into the power of love within themselves and others -- encouraging confidence, empathy, kindness, and self-acceptance.
Through the story of I Love You More and her own life journey, Laura helps students understand that challenges do not define them -- and that their uniqueness is something to embrace, not hide.
Students leave feeling seen, valued, and inspired to share their own light.
YOU are a Star...Keep Shining!
By Design, You Are a Star
One of the most memorable moments of Laura’s program happens in the "Keep Shining!" cheer when students stand up, stretch their arms outward, and step their feet apart -- discovering that their bodies naturally form the shape of a five-pointed star.
This simple experience becomes a powerful reminder:
By design, you are meant to share and shine your light and love with the world.
Students carry this visual reminder with them long after the visit.
Laura's Story - One of Authenticity and Resilience
Embracing What Makes Us Unique
At age eleven, Laura lost her hair to a condition called Alopecia Areata. For many years, she hid behind wigs, feeling different and unsure of her place in the world.
Eventually, she made the courageous decision to live openly as herself -- discovering that the very thing she once tried to hide became one of her greatest sources of strength and connection.
By sharing her story, Laura helps students understand that their differences, challenges, and life experiences can become sources of confidence, empathy, and purpose.
Her message empowers students to:
Embrace who they are
Treat others with kindness and compassion
Recognize their inherent worth
Develop resilience in the face of challenges
Discover the fun and freedom that comes from Being Yourself
Connection to Literacy
The Power of Stories to Nurture and Develop a Healthy Imagination
With a reading of I Love You More, and a discussion about the life of an author, students experience how stories can help express emotions, build connection, enhance our creativity, broaden our horizons, and remind us of what matters most. Laura also shares how reading helps to develop and nurture a healthy imagination one of life's greatest assets!
These lessons become a shared experience that teachers and students benefit from long after the visit.
Ideal For
Program Formats
Laura’s programs are ideal for:
- Preschools
- Elementary school assemblies
- Middle school assemblies
- High school assemblies
- Family Literacy events
- Author visits
- Character education programs
- School-wide or City-Wide enrichment days
Programs can be customized to fit your school’s needs.
Schools Visited
Schools and Communities Served
Arizona:
Mesa: Zaharis Elementary
Tempe: Changing Hands w School for the Deaf
California:
La Jolla: The Children's School
Lake Tahoe: Environmental Science Magnet
Los Angeles: St James Episcopal
Murrieta: Murrieta Elementary
Colorado:
Aspen: Aspen Elementary, Wildwood and others
Denver: Mile High Center for Spiritual Living Youth Program
Longmont: St John the Baptist Catholic School
Florida:
Amelia Island: Amelia Island Montessori
Atlantic Beach: Atlantic Beach Elementary
Boca Raton: Saint Andrew's Primary School
Bryceville: Bryceville Elementary
Celebration: Celebration Elementary
Coral Springs: Riverside, Country Hills, Cambridge Schools
Davie: David Posnack Temple School, Hawkes Bluff
Delray: American Heritage (two visits)
Fort Lauderdale: Virginia S Young, Lloyd Estates, Floranada, St Mark's, Pinecrest, St Anthony's, Delmar academy, Bayview, Little Flower Montessori, Church by the Sea School
Fort Pierce: Fort Pierce Magnet School for the Arts
Hallandale: David Posnack/ Hochberg East Campus
Hollywood: Beach Montessori
Lady Lake: The Villages of Lady Lake Elementary
Land O' Lakes: Sanders
Leesburg: Leesburg Elementary
Lutz: Kidstuff
Miami: Alexander School, Miami Country Day, St Francis, St Thomas
Mount Dora: Round Lake Charter
Pembroke Pines: Cambridge Schools
Pinecrest: Pinecrest Elementary
Plantation: American Heritage (four visits)
Pompano: Lighthouse Point Christian
New Port Richey: Fox Hollow Elementary
Tamarac: Liberty Elementary
Tangerine: Tangerine School House
Weston: Everglades Elementary, Imagine Charter, Cambridge Schools
West Palm Beach: Meyer's Academy, Academy of the Palm Beaches
Windermere: Keene's Crossing Elementary
Illinois:
Glenview: Willowbrook
Shorewood: Walnut Trails
Streamwood: Ridge Circle
Wheaton: St Michael's Elementary
Kentucky:
Alexandria: St Joseph Cold Spring
Bowling Green: Briarwood Elementary
Maryland:
Annapolis: Preschool for the Arts
College Park: University of Maryland
Massachusetts:
Halifax: Halifax Elementary, The Magical Years
Hingham: Notre Dame Academy, St Paul's Catholic School
Kingston: Kingston Elementary, Sacred Heart, The Magical Years
Marshfield: Governor Winslow, Daniel Webster, Martinson, Eames Way, Steeple School
Milton: Collicot
Pembroke: The Magic Years
Plymouth: Federal Furnace Elementary
Quincy: South Shore STARS Preschool
Randolph: South Shore STARS preschool
Scituate: Hatherly, Jenkins, Lil' Munchkins Childcare & Preschool, Owl's Crossing Preschool
Weymouth: South Shore STARS Preschool
Missouri:
Overland: Marion Elementary
St Louis: Immacolata, New City School
New Jersey:
Caldwell: Grandview, Trinity Academy
Orange: Forest Street
West Orange: Gregory Elementary
New York:
Frost Valley YMCA for CAP
Port Washington: Parent Resource Center
Ohio:
Cincinnati: Guardian Angels, Sands Montessori, Mercer, Welch, Colerain
Kings Mills: Kings Mills
South Carolina:
Aynor: Aynor Elementary
Conway: Kingston Elementary
Tennessee:
Brentwood: Kenrose
Franklin: Walnut Grove, Clovercroft
Nashville: Mama Lere School for the Deaf, Vanderbilt
Mt Juliet: Rutland Elementary
Spring Hill: Allendale
Watertown: Watertown Elementary
Texas:
Austin: Blazier Elementary
Ready to add your school to the list!
Testimonials
What Educators and Students Are Saying
"YOU ARE AMAZING!"
First grade student, American Heritage, Palm Beach Campus
On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of Virginia S. Young Montessori Magnet, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for coming out to our school. Your performances demonstrated your passion for positive thinking. Your message that everyone is a genius and anyone can achieve their dreams resonated with our students and staff. Afterwards, I overheard students sharing with others the impact of your presentation on how they view themselves and others.
When we scheduled your visit, we had no idea how dynamic and powerful your program would be. It is my pleasure to recommend you as an outstanding author/presenter to other schools in our district and beyond. You are now a celebrity of our students and your performances demonstrated the importance of reading, believing in yourself, and pursuing your dreams. Any school would be blessed to have you as a presenter. You truly touched the lives of our students and we thank you. We now believe in the beauty of our dreams and to always keep shining!
Jennifer Narkier, Media Specialist, Virginia S. Young Montessori Magnet
I was planning a community event, and wow did I hit the jackpot bringing in New York Times Bestselling author, Laura Duksta!!! She spoke to our book club after school and then came back for a sensational evening event. Both presentations exceeded my expectations. Laura inspired future authors to never give up, and realize that sometimes it takes a little failure to find success. Laura also inspired others to feel good about themselves with her fun cheers! She had students, parents, and community members on their feet, and feeling great!
Many of you think that during these difficult financial times, it's not possible to afford such an event. That's not true. Thanks to the tremendous support from a school partner, I was also able to secure Laura's fee with ease. I would highly recommend Laura and her program to students, parents, and teachers! What an enthusiastic author! Don't miss out!!!
Amy, Third Grade Teacher, Weston, FL
Thank you so much for your presentation at St. Mark's. I can truly say that we were all overwhelmed by your positive message! I was so impressed with your ability to communicate effectively with all age groups. Each of the groups you spoke to from the 1 year old class to the 8th grade enjoyed your book and talk. I have seen kids doing the I Shine cheer all week and our 7/8th grade Math teacher tells me she uses the genius cheer every day at the start of class! I hope you will come back and talk to us about your next book--we are looking forward to it!
Heidi Burnett, Director, School Media Center, St. Mark's Episcopal School
Laura Duksta and Karen Keesler are great! They have a presentation that truly supports the work of educators, parents and children. Their message of love includes both affective and academic elements. Social and emotional issues discussed include dealing with personal challenges, differences in yourself and others, appreciating yourself and others, using the imagination and self-affirmation, setting goals, accepting constructive criticism, and using your talents to help others. Academic issues include keeping a positive attitude in school, exploring the creative process, drafting and revising work of any kind (including written and artistic work) and persevering to complete a project. Laura and Karen know how to tailor their program to audiences of various ages. They helped my school find the genius inside each one of us!
James McGhee II, Headmaster, Alexander School, Miami, FL
I feel it's been a privilege to have crossed paths with these lovely ladies because of their message of love and their dedicated, compassionate method of delivering that message not only through their book and their web site, but also through their personalities. Every chance I've had to interact with Laura and Karen tells me that they have a strong message that needs to be heard not only in South Florida, but around the world.
Julia E. Spann, Youth Services Librarian Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Res. Center
"I find Laura to be an amazing person and feel that her positive outlook on building relationships is in keeping with our Character Education Program."
Susan Messing, Proud Principal, Chancellor Charter School
"I thought Laura's presentation was great. The students and I talked about it after the show. The students focused on what it must be like and feel like to look different and how important it is to treat everyone with kindness. We discussed how we all have two eyes, two ears, etc. yet how we all have special qualities that make us different."
Debbie Geller, Teacher Imagine Schools
When the guidance counselor who booked Laura at American Heritage (Broward campus), asked her 6th grade son what he thought of the program, she was expecting one of his typical responses of "Boring" or "Ok," she was surprised by his heartfelt answer, "The only problem was that it should've been longer!" The program was an hour!
Media specialists frequently comment on Laura's ability to engage, and effectively communicate, with younger and older students. While she typically visit elementary schools, she has talks designed for all ages from preschool to high school, personal development days, educator seminars, mommy and me groups, as well as senior living homes...the message of LOVE resonates with and makes a difference for people of all ages!
It is Laura's ability to be PRESENT with the students that is the true GIFT!
BOOKING
Bring A Call to Love to Your School
Laura is currently booking school visits as part of The I Love You More Tour - Celebrating 25 Years, and the A Call to Love movement.
To inquire about availability, please use the Contact page.
