Reviews from Performances with Educators 


"Dear Neil, What a treat we had today! Your presentation was memorable, interactive, exciting, insightful, and entertaining. You got students and adults exited. You made high school students “sing,”  laugh and think. Students were so into your presentation that they started getting their cellular telephones out to record it. You made us reflect on what we have within our proximity and how we can use it in our classroom or daily life to make a difference. You made a difference in our lives today. Thank you very much for being our keynote speaker during the Education Career Academy award ceremony!"  - Diane Mackenzie / Human Services, Education, and International Studies Specialist  / Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, Kentucky / 502-485-3122 / Diane.MacKenzie@jefferson.kyschools.us

"He reached the hearts of everyone in the audience. He shared experiences that we all have in common and brought everyone together through that common experience." - Debbie Tribble, Ed.D / Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Administration / Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District / Bedford, Texas / 817- 339-2062 / deborahtribble@hebisd.edu

"We gave Neil Brewer 50 minutes for his presentation, and the audience wanted much more. After hearing him, I went straight to our superintendent and told him I had found a great presenter for our district's opening day." - Judy Whitson /  2009 President of The Kentucky Council of Teachers of English & Language Arts and Principal of T.C. Cherry Elementary School / Bowling Green, Kentucky / judy.whitson@bgreen.kyschools.us

"Dear Neil,  I want to thank you for the great start you gave to our school year.  You connected with our staff and made them feel good about their profession yet challenged them to keep the needs of the students as their primary focus.  Your talent as a writer and performer mixed well with your education background  to create a moving presentation." /Dr. Randall J. Zimmerly, Superintendent / Westview School Corporation / Topeka, Indiana / 260-768-4404ZimmerlyR@westview.k12.in.us

"Thank you for performing at our opening day meeting for all New Albany-Floyd County School Employees. It was enjoyed by all! It was apparent that you enjoy what you do, and please know that you made our opening day special." - Dr. Dennis E. Brooks, Superintendent of New Albany-Floyd County Schools / 812-949-4212 / dbrooks@nafcs.k12.in.us

"We just finished our week of getting ready for kids.  I typically survey teachers about the week, and your name came up over and over.  I appreciated the way that you tied your thoughts to our school theme of hope. Thank you for the encouragement - I will recommend you to my colleagues."  - Jeff Russell, Principal /Smithfield Middle School / North Richland Hills, Texas / 817-547-5010 / jeff_russell@birdville.k12.tx.us

"Neil - Thanks for a great presentation....it was wonderful and generated a wealth of enthusiasm district wide.  Your combination of inspiration, music, curriculum and humor created an outstanding opening day experience for our teachers!" - Tami Hicks, Principal of Riley Elementary School and Opening Day Coordinator / Frankfort, Indiana / 765-659-3822 

"The evaluations repeatedly called it the 'best session of the conference'. You made us want to pick up a pencil and write down our own families' histories!" - Doris Cella, Outreach Coordinator of The Purchase Area Writing Project / Murray State University / doris.cella@murraystate.edu

"Neil Brewer is an artist who stirs the imagination and memory. His message is universal and wakes the ever-present simplicity and magic of childhood." - David Rarick, Director of Communications / New Albany-Floyd County Schools / 812-949-4200 / drarick@nafcs.k12.in.us

"It was a great presentation. Lots of wit and humor! His poems and songs were entertaining, yet they delivered a strong message about school, life and growing up." Dr. Stephen Waddell, Superintendent of The Birdville Independent School District / Haltom City, Texas / 817-547-5700 / Stephen_Waddell@birdville.k12.tx.us

"Riveting!  The poetry and music of his presentation were outstanding.  The audience was immersed in his presentation.  I am looking forward to the next time I will be able to see a presentation by Neil Brewer." - Kerry Conrad, 2007 President of Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts / 859-472-7000 / kerry.conrad@pendleton.kyschools.us

"We invited him back for a second visit." - Twila Yaste, Programs' Coordinator / Ivy Tech State College / Sellersburg, Indiana / 812-246-3301 / tyaste@ivytech.edu

"Excellent!" - Janet Druen, 2007 President of The Kentucky Coalition of School Volunteer Organizations / 270-769-8862 / edjan99@windstream.net

"Thank you for your recent visit to Smithfield Middle School. It was such a delight to have you during our staff development time because your performance brought so much laughter and engagement on a day we were not expecting those things! I have finished reading your book, and as a former English teacher, I was impressed with the passion and talent represented. Again, thank you for your very entertaining and enlightening performance!" - Cheryl Eager, Librarian / Smithfield Middle School / North Richland Hills, Texas / 817-547-5015 / Cheryl_Eager@birdville.k12.tx.us