Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.'” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference, and was featured by our editors on the home page.ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Rita F. Pierson · Educator

Rita F. Pierson spent her entire life in or around the classroom, having followed both her parents and grandparents into a career as an educator.