Dr. Tommie Mabry is an international speaker, nationally recognized educator, and best-selling author whose story of resilience and transformation has inspired audience worldwide. As the author of A Dark Journey to a Light Future, A memoir and three other impactful books, Dr. Mabry shares a powerful message of hope and perseverance. His achievements have been celebrated on platforms like USA Today, PBS Network, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and FOX Soul, among others.
Growing up in one of Jackson, Mississippi's toughest neighborhoods, Tommie faced significant challenges early on. By fifth grade, he was arrested for breaking into the state fairgrounds and spent much of his school years suspended or expelled. A judge once predicted he would end up dead or in prison within five years - a statement that ultimately became a turning point. Through basketball, Tommie found a new path, traveling with an AAU team and becoming the first in his family to graduate high school in 2007. Despite being shot during his senior year, he persevered an earned a full basketball scholarship to Missouri State University - West Plains.
Tommie graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Education from Tougaloo College and went on to earn an M.A. in Child Development. In 2020, he completed an Executive Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education at Jackson State University. His journey came full circle when he was hired as a teacher by the same Jackson Public School District that once expelled him.
Today, as the founder of the Tommie Mabry Company, Dr. Mabry travels the globe, inspiring students, educators, and leaders through his compelling story and actionable insights. His latest book, Perspective! The Secret to Student Motivation and Success, earned him the prestigious Corwin New Voices Award in 2022. In 2025, he was recognized as one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Men in Business.
Dr. Mabry lives by the motto, “I cannot walk in my future with my foot in my past.”
Developing resilience in students has become a critical priority for schools as educators and school counselors work to support students through academic, social, and emotional challenges. This engaging keynote explores how school counselors and school leaders can move beyond simply responding to student struggles and instead intentionally create environments that build resilience, strengthen student identity, and foster long-term success. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence student resilience and learn practical strategies for helping students overcome adversity while developing confidence, self-awareness, perseverance, and purpose.
Through a leadership lens, attendees will examine how school counselors can serve as agents within their schools by cultivating supportive relationships, creating systems of encouragement, and implementing practices that positively impact student outcomes.
FLDOE Rule, 6A-5.079, Florida School Counseling Standards addressed: #1 thru #7
