Shaun Bryant

Get your raffle tickets to benefit FosterAdopt Connect!!
$5 each for $20 for 5
bit.ly/makeadifference2026

You could win an electric scooter, remote control electric skateboard, 8-quart air fryer, and a shiatsu neck/shoulder massager!! Drawing occurs on April 15 at Gaels on Troost Avenue, and you do not need to be present to win.😊

Rockstar Bingo & Massive Raffle at Gaels to support FosterAdopt Connect By Foster Adopt Connect

Hi all! If you want to support FosterAdopt Connect, come to our fundraiser on Wed, April 15th! We'll play bingo on our phones, and you can win these AWESOME raffle prizes? Starts at 6pm, but I say arrive early for their stellar happy hour food and drink specials!

Can't attend? No worries! Scan the QR code on the image (( or go to bit.ly/makeadifference2026 )) to get your raffle tickets. Every dollar goes to FosterAdopt Connect. Every single one.

I did it! I registered to run the 26-mile Greater St. Louis marathon on April 11th! I'm doing it to raise funds for FosterAdopt Connect, an imperative community organization that has been robbed of critical funding at the federal and state level.

Can you sponsor me at $1 per mile? Please consider a $26 donation, which you can make by visiting onecau.se/_g5bc21 and then clicking Donate on the right.

Have I ever run a marathon before? No. Will it be hard? Heck yes. But our foster kiddos and adopted kiddos are in desperate need, and they're counting on us. To me, that's all that matters.

I want to share a story that is deeply personal to me. My dear friend Nestor is a kind, hardworking Venezuelan immigrant who fled his home to escape a corrupt and dangerous government. Venezuela is a beautiful country—but it is also deeply unsafe, especially for those who dare to speak out or live honestly under a failing system.

After participating in a peaceful protest about the right to education, his friend was killed and his family home was attacked by gunfire. He left to keep his friends and family safe. That’s exactly why we DO need to be a safe haven for people fleeing countries like Venezuela.

For nearly three years, he lived with me. And he became one of my closest friends. He is like my brother. He IS my brother. We did everything we could to get him documented—every form, every appointment, every fee—but the system failed him.

With nowhere left to turn and the current administration deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador, Nestor took a bus to Mexico, believing it would be safer. I’m heartbroken to say that he’s gone now; not from this world, but from me and the place he thought he could call home. I’m ashamed that someone fleeing violence felt safer in Mexico than in the United States. We say “liberty and justice for all” every day at school, and I really wish that were true.

Over the next several days, I’ll be making what I think is a strong, pro-U.S.A. argument that favors immigrants being in our country–even undocumented immigrants. Whether you agree or disagree, you’re welcome to join me in the Comments with respectful and evidence-based responses.

I love helping people shine ☀️ Because then I get to stand in their light.

Hi everyone! Well, the school year is definitely underway, and I just can't afford some of the things we need. If your heart is generous today, consider helping me/us with one or all of the following:

1. DonorsChoose: This is a project for snacks, incentives, and color printer ink for student projects. Click here: https://tinyurl.com/533f2aad

2. National Junior Honor Society and Student Council Induction Ceremonies: We have 49 NJHS and StuCo members this year, grades 3-8, and we're inducting them on September 16th. Do you have little trinkets or prizes to distribute to these scholars? Message me directly or post a Comment below.

3. PD Gift Cards: I'm facilitating a full-day professional development for teachers on September 3rd. I'd love to stock up on $10 Gift Cards to award to teachers throughout the day. My Venmo is . Just put "teachers" in the description. Please know that whatever you donate will be divided into $10 Gift Cards. If you have actual gift cards to donate, please let me know in the Comments below and I'll reach out to you.

With humility and gratitude,
Shaun Bryant

Announcement!

But first, a story: In 2013, after having just finished certification requirements to be a teacher, Kelly Lynn Sales and Terri Goddard took a chance on me and served as references for Brookside Charter School, a Leader in Me school based on Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (www.leaderinme.com). Over the years, I realized that I didn't want leadership to be *part* of what I did at a school; I wanted leadership to be *all* I do.

So for over a decade, I worked on myself. A lot. I joined all the teams I could at work. I created and delivered PD as much as possible. I read leadership development books. I started public speaking. I kept going back to school. Over and over. I just knew my time would come. And now...

I'm proud to say that FranklinCovey has hired me as a part-time education consultant. I will travel to schools across the country and facilitate all sorts of amazing workshops for educators. It's just part time (for now), but it's a foot in the door. And I already have a great lineup of schools I'm planning to visit!

Within the next three weeks: I'll stay on a Native American reservation with the Zuni Pueblo people. The next day, I'll be at a rural school outside New Orleans. Then I'll be driving across Florida to visit highly diverse schools in Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, and Fort Lauderdale. Imagine how much I'll be able to learn from these experiences! It's hard to state how fortunate I feel for this opportunity. I'm so grateful and ecstatic!

Stephen Covey says that, in life, we detect rather than invent our missions. For years now, I've detected my mission to unleash greatness in people around me. I'm so honored and excited it's beginning to come to fruition.

"When destiny calls, answer. There's nothing more motivating than discovering your purpose." -- Shaun Bryant, Ed.D. (7/18/2024)

Today the Dean of Grand Canyon University signed my dissertation, which concludes the arduous journey of a lifetime: Becoming Dr. Shaun Bryant. My specialty is Organizational Leadership & Development.

In June 2020, the pandemic trapped us inside the walls of our respective residences. It was then this pursuit began. From learning to conduct scholarly research to writing a nearly 200-page dissertation with 120+ references, It has definitely been a full-time job.

My secret weapon has been excellent time management, which anyone can develop by changing their paradigm from "When is this due?" to "When can it be submitted?" and by always staying true to Future Self in the moment of choice.

I cannot underestimate the power of a strong support system. Friends and family who listened to me practice my various defenses and vent about stubborn advisors: THANK YOU. If you stifled my stress with dinner and ice cream along the way, a BONUS thank you.

With humility, I am proud to say I did very well on this journey. My coursework (see image) concluded with a 3.92 GPA. (It takes 97% to get an A at the doctoral level.) I became a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. I was chosen by my committee chair as one of two scholars to have an article about my dissertation published. Mine will appear in the International Journal of Leadership in Education. You can read it here: tinyurl.com/drbemergingscholar

My friends, no one knows what the future holds. No one. For everyone, there *will* be a day when we wake up for the last time. I promise you that. But until that day comes, life will pass whether we pour into our Future Selves or not. This in mind, may I offer these words:
"In the hourglass of life, every grain of sand
That's still at the TOP is yours to command."
-- Dr. Shaun Bryant, 2023

Hi everyone! I have two funding needs that you'll appreciate if you (a) like kids or (b) enjoy helping to cure diseases.

Option 1: It's almost MAP Testing season at the school, and I need to obtain 1,738 snacks so that all students can have some sustenance before each testing session. LOL!! We only need $131 more to fully fund this project. To donate to this cause, go to https://bit.ly/mapsnacks2024

Option 2: It's AIDS Walk season, and we're selling homemade burritos to honor David Armendariz's memory while giving back to the community. Every single dollar stays right here in KC! For every $25 donation, you get a DOZEN burritos! To order now (no payment until mid-April delivery), go to tinyurl.com/burritosfordavid

Option 3: Donate to both!

We're doing a Burrito Fundraiser for AIDS Service Foundation of Greater KC to honor David Armendariz!!

$25/dozen or $15/half dozen

Order now (pay later!) at tinyurl.com/burritosfordavid
We're accepting orders through April 5th
Pick-up/Delivery scheduled for the week of April 14th

And don't forget that AIDS Walk 2024 is on Saturday, April 27th at 8am at Theis Park! See ya there!

Congregation at 423 Olive Street!
AIDS Walk KC Team AT YOUR SERVICE: In loving memory of David Armendariz
Kansas City Frontrunners & Walkers

AIDS Walk Burrito Fundraiser Greetings! You've found the burrito order form, which will help to raise money for AIDS Walk Kansas City to honor the memory of David Armendariz. Please complete the following information. Plan to collect your order on Saturday, April 14th (location TBD) or we can schedule a delivery. Questions? Ema...