Todd Whitaker

Todd Whitaker is an American educator, writer, motivational speaker, educational consultant, and professor. A leading presenter in the field of education, Dr. Whitaker has published over 60 books on staff motivation, teacher leadership, technology, middle level practices, instructional improvement, and principal effectiveness, including the national best-seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently. Before leaving in 2016, he was a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University. In 2013, Dr. Whitaker received the President's Medal from Indiana State University, the university's highest award for faculty.

Education and early career Todd Whitaker studied at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration in 1981. Study guides, audio CD's, and DVD's have also been published to accompany the book. In 2013, What Great Teachers Do Differently was listed as one of the best-selling education books of the year by the New York Times.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Whitaker has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards. In 2009, he was honored with the Indiana Association of School Principals President's Award, marking the first time that the award was granted to an individual in academia. In 2011, Dr. Whitaker won an Axiom Business Book Award for his book, The Ball. The Ball also earned Dr. Whitaker the 2011 USA Best Book Award for Business/Motivational writing. Dr. Whitaker's 2011 publication Shifting the Monkey was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's 2011 Book of the Year, a Category Winner for the 2012 Small Business Book Award, and a finalist for the 2012 USA Best Book Award.

Whitaker is also a member of the Education Speakers Group and the SDE (Staff Development for Educators). He regularly presents at conferences such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Academy of Management Learning and Education, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Dr. Whitaker speaks on topics such as dealing with difficult teachers, building and enhancing staff morale, dealing with administrative change, classroom management, and proactive discipline.

In addition to his books, Whitaker has also published more than 30 articles and previously served as co-editor of Contemporary Education. He has reached millions of educators as a presenter, educational consultant, and keynote speaker. and currently has 146.2K followers on Twitter.

Books Your First Year: How to Survive and Thrive As A New Teacher (2016, Routledge, ) Dealing with Difficult Parents, Second Edition (2015, Routledge, ) A School Leader's Guide to Dealing with Difficult Parents (2015, Routledge, ) Study Guide to Dealing with Difficult Parents (2015, Routledge, ) What Connected Educators Do Differently (2015, Routledge, ) Quick Answers for Busy Teachers: Solutions to 60 Common Challenges (2014,Wiley, ) Dealing with Difficult Teachers, 3rd edition (2014, Routledge, ) Seven Simple Secrets: What the BEST Teachers Know and Do! (2014, Routledge, ) Study Guide, Seven Simple Secrets: What the BEST Teachers Know and Do!, 2nd edition (2015, Routledge, ) Seven Simple Secrets: What the BEST Teachers Know and Do! (2006, Routledge, ) Teach Smart: 11 Learner-Centered Strategies that Ensure Student Success (2013, Routledge, ) Teaching Matters: How to Keep Your Passion and Thrive in Today's Classroom, 2nd edition (2013, Routledge, ) The Secret Solution: How One Principal Discovered the Path to Success (2013, Rowman & Littlefield, ) The Ten-Minute Inservice: 40 Quick Training Sessions that Build Teacher Effectiveness (2013, Wiley, ) Making Good Teaching Great: Everyday Strategies for Teaching with Impact (2012, Routledge, ) What Great Principals Do Differently: Eighteen Things That Matter Most, 2nd edition (2011, Routledge, ) Study Guide: What Great Principals Do Differently: Eighteen Things That Matter Most, 2nd edition (2011, Routledge, ) What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most, 2nd edition (2011, Routledge, ) Study Guide: What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most, 2nd edition (2011, Routledge, ) Shifting the Monkey: The Art of Protecting Good Liars, Criers, and Other Slackers (2011, Solution Tree, ) The Ball (2010, Solution Tree, ) What Great Coaches Do Differently: 11 Elements of Effective Coaching (2010, Routledge, ) Implementing School Change DVD and Facilitator's Guide: 9 Strategies to Bring Everyone on Board (2011, Routledge, ) 50 Ways To Improve Student Behavior: Simple Solutions to Complex Challenges (2009, Routledge, ) Study Guide, 50 Ways To Improve Student Behavior: Simple Solutions to Complex Challenges (2010, Routledge, ) Leading School Change: 9 Strategies To Bring Everybody On Board (2009, Routledge, ) Motivating & Inspiring Teachers: The Educational Leaders’ Guide For Building Staff Morale, 2nd edition (2008, Routledge, ) 4 CORE Factors For School Success (2008, Routledge, ) Study Guide: 7 Simple Secrets: What the Best Teachers Know and Do (2007, Routledge, ) What Great Teachers Do Differently: Facilitator's Guide (2007, Routledge, ) 6 Types of Teachers: Recruiting, Retaining, and Mentoring the Best (2004, Routledge, ) Great Quotes For Great Educators (2004, Routledge, ) Dealing With Difficult Teachers, 2nd edition (2002, Routledge, ) Feeling Great: The Educator's Guide To Eating Better, Exercising Smarter, and Feeling Your Best (2002, Routledge, ) Teaching Matters: Motivating & Inspiring Yourself (2002, Routledge, ) Dealing With Difficult Parents (And With Parents in Difficult Situations) (2001, Routledge, )

Articles Whitaker, T. (2013, August. "See Parents As Friends -- Not Foes" TES Connect, https://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6351231 Whitaker, T. (2005, March). “ Predicting The Future of Education: So, When Are We Going Metric?” Principal Leadership, 3(7), p. 35-37. Whitaker, T. (2004, January/February). “Setting The Tone. “ Leadership. Association of California School Administrators, 33(4), p. 20-22. Whitaker, T. (2003, February). “Dealing With Difficult Teachers.” Audio Journal of Education (Reissue). Whitaker, T. (2003). “Power Plays Of Difficult Employees.” The School Administrator. American Association of School Administrators, 2(6), p. 12-16. Whitaker, T. (2003). “Dealing With Difficult Parents.” Principal Leadership. National Association of Secondary Schools, 2(60), p. 46-49. Whitaker, T. (2003, February). “Motivating Teachers: A Wire Side Chat With Todd Whitaker.” Education-World.com http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin296.shtml. Gruenert, S. and Whitaker, T. (2003). “Why Do We Do What We Do?” Instructional Leader. Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, 16(1), p. 1-2, 12. Whitaker, T. (2002, November). “Dealing With Difficult Parents (And With Parents In Difficult Situations)”. Audio Journal of Education. Whitaker, T. (2002, September/October).” Addition By Subtraction: Eliminating Behaviors Of Ineffective Staff.” Perspective. American Association of School Personnel Administrators, p. 8-9. Whitaker, T. (2001). “Treating Everyone With Respect. It's Not The Best Thing, It's The Only Thing.” Hoosier Stars. Indiana Association of School Principals, p. 9-10. Whitaker, T. (2001, November). “Dealing With Difficult Parents (And With Parents In Difficult Situations).” Audio Journal of Education. Whitaker, T. (2001). “Treating Everyone With Respect. It's Not The Best Thing, It's The Only Thing.” Hoosier Stars. Indiana Association of School Principals, p. 9-10. Whitaker, T. (2001) “What Is Your Priority?” NASSP Bulletin. 84(617), p. 16-21. Whitaker, T. (2001, April). “Dealing With Difficult Teachers.” Audio Journal of Education. Whitaker, T. ((1999). “Utilizing 'Superstar' Teachers To Lead Change”. Catalyst For Change, 29(1), p. 5-8. Whitaker, T. (1999). “Staff Morale and Professional Development.” The Network News, 6(3), p. 1-2. Whitaker, T. (1999). “Seizing Power From Difficult Teachers.” The High School Magazine, 7(2), p. 36-39. Whitaker, T. (1999). “Examining The Impact Of The Indiana Principal Leadership Academy.” Special Edition 12(1), p. 1-2 Whitaker, T. and Hays, C. (1998). “Parent/Student Computer Clubs: Teaming With Technology.” Schools In The Middle, 6(5), p. 15-16. Whitaker, T. (1997). “Three Differences Between 'More Effective' and ‘Less Effective' Middle Level Principals”. Current Issues In Middle Level Education, 6(2), p. 54-64. Whitaker, T. and Skow, L. (1997). “Understanding Today's Adolescent: The Path to Effective Communication.” Schools In The Middle, 7(2), p. 12-15. Conrad, M. and Whitaker, T. (1997). “Inclusion and The Law: A Principal's Proactive Approach.” Clearing House, 70(4), p. 207-210. Lumpa, D. and Whitaker, T. (1997). “Accessing External Funding -The Principal's Role.” Here's How, 15(4), p. 3. Whitaker, T. (1996). “Linking Technology and The Middle School.” Middle School Journal, 27(4), p. 8-14. Skow, L. and Whitaker, T. (1996). “It's What You Say And What You Do! Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors: A Key To Effective Communication.” NASSP Bulletin, 80(584), 90-95. Whitaker, T. (1996). “Technology: Personalizing the Parent-Student-School Link.” Middle Ground, Winter, p. 6. Jordan, M., Whitaker, B., and Whitaker, T. (1996). “Parent-Teacher Conferences: Adding The Crucial Link: Student-Led Conferences.” KAMLE Karavan, 9, p. 21-22. Lumpa, D. and Whitaker, T. (1996). “Make Lunchtime a Picnic!” Principal, 76(2), 44-45. Whitaker, T. (1995). “Middle School Programs In Indiana.” In Focus. Fall, 19-20.

Personal life Whitaker is married to Beth, a professor of elementary education at Indiana State University and a former teacher and principal. They have three children.