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HOW THE SHIFT HAPPENS
Strength-based Practices You Can Use Tomorrow
1
INTERRUPT DEFICIT THINKING
Deficit thinking isn’t just an idea. It’s a habit built into referrals, meetings, evaluations, and everyday language. I help educators recognize where deficit patterns show up in their own work and how those patterns quietly shape decisions about students. Once those habits are visible, they become changeable.
This is the starting point of shifting your lens: noticing what you’ve been taught to overlook.
2
REPLACE WITH STRENGTH-BASED PRACTICE
Awareness alone doesn’t change outcomes. I show educators how to disrupt deficit thinking and shift to strength-based thinking that they can use immediately. How to think differently. How to ask better questions in meetings. How to document student needs without erasing assets.
These are not new programs or extra work. They are practical shifts inside work you already do.
3
APPLY IT TOMORROW
Everything I speak on is designed to show up in practice the next day. In schools. In evaluations. In IEP meetings. In conversations with families. Importantly, within you. The goal is not agreement or buy-in. The goal is action that changes how students are seen and supported.
That’s the throughline of my work and the heart of everything I do: shifting from what’s wrong to what’s strong, one decision at a time.
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ABOUT ME
I help people shift to what’s strong!
A proud product of P.G. County, Maryland, Dr. Byron McClure is a National Certified School Psychologist, Founder of Lessons For SEL, electrifying speaker, and best-selling co-author of Hacking Deficit Thinking. With over a decade of experience working as a practitioner in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Byron has consistently put in the work to shift mindsets from what’s wrong to what’s STRONG! His mission has been the same since day 1... to improve outcomes, especially for youth and historically marginalized communities.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS | KEYNOTES | FEATURED SPEAKER
Dr. Byron McClure is a leading social-emotional development expert who has helped educators, school psychologists, social workers, school leaders, and youth worldwide apply strength-based practices.
Dr. McClure is available for in-person and virtual speaking engagements. He offers a variety of professional learning series to help educators, mental health professionals, school leaders, community partners, and parents. Topics are fully customizable and designed to help you practically get started with implementing strength-based practices, reducing rates of disproportionality, and improving the social-emotional, and academic development of youth.
PRESENTATION TOPICS
Shifting to What's Strong. Strength-based Habits to Support the Well-being of Youth (and Adults too).
Moving Away From Deficit Thinking towards Strength-based Practices.
A Strength-based Approach to School Mental Health: What the Latest Research Tells Us & What You Can Do About It.
AI as Your Thought Partner: Expanding the Scope of School Psychology Practice
AI-Powered Report Writing: A School Psychologist's Guide to Enhancing Clinical Practice with Artificial Intelligence
HEAR FROM THOSE WHO'VE SHIFTED TO WHAT'S STRONG
“One of the best sessions I've ever been to at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Seriously, he changed my life.”
JEFFREY SMITH, NC
“Engaging presenter with great real-life experience implementing the practices he spoke of. I actually was able to start implementing his strategies in my school. GAMECHANGER”
HALIT KEIGAD, FL
“Excellent speaker, interactive, communicates clearly and effectively. High energy. I wish he could speak to our school leaders.”
ANTHONY, CA
