Throughout the school year, district leaders are always looking for professional development that is practical, energizing, and genuinely useful for teachers. Educators are asked to model resilience, adaptability, and growth mindset every day—but they also need opportunities to experience those concepts in ways that feel memorable and real.

That is where Tom Hicks, founder and Chief Juggling Officer of Throw & Catch Consulting, brings something truly unique.

Tom’s interactive keynote and workshop, “Embracing Failure & Growth Through Juggling,” uses one unexpected tool—juggling—to help participants reframe failure, build resilience, and approach challenges with curiosity instead of judgment.

A Hands-On Approach to Growth Mindset

Rather than simply talking about failure, Tom invites participants to experience it in a safe, playful, and low-pressure environment.

When someone drops a ball, the moment becomes part of the learning. Instead of embarrassment or frustration, Tom encourages participants to respond with the phrase:

“How fascinating.”

That simple shift can be powerful. It helps participants move from self-criticism to curiosity, from perfectionism to progress, and from fear of failure to a willingness to try again.

For teachers, this message connects directly to the classroom. Students need to know that mistakes are not the end of learning—they are often the beginning. Tom’s workshop gives educators a concrete, memorable way to reinforce that idea.

Why This Matters for Teachers

Teaching requires constant adaptation. Lesson plans change. Student needs shift. New initiatives roll out. Expectations grow. In that environment, resilience is not just helpful—it is essential.

Tom’s program helps teachers:

Strengthen resilience and adaptability
Build a healthier relationship with failure
Reconnect with curiosity and play
Create a classroom culture where mistakes become learning moments
Model growth mindset in a practical, authentic way

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Tom brings both credibility and warmth to his work. His sessions are engaging, reflective, and fun—while still delivering a message that sticks long after the workshop ends.

Recent Feedback from Tom’s Keynote

One recent participant shared this powerful response:

“The session Embracing Failure and Growth Through Juggling provided a truly life transforming experience. As someone prone to perfectionism, the playful, direct approach to failure—specifically, encouraging us to say ‘how fascinating’ when a ball was dropped—was a life-altering aha moment. This practice immediately shifted a lifetime of reactions driven by judgment including feelings of failure and shame, into ones of curiosity and growth.”

That kind of feedback speaks to the heart of Tom’s work. His program is not just about learning to juggle. It is about helping people change the way they respond when things do not go perfectly.

A Fun and Meaningful PD Option for Any Point in the School Year

For superintendents, curriculum leaders, and professional development planners, Tom Hicks offers a refreshing option for teacher workshops, in-service days, staff development events, and school-year retreats.

His session is interactive, easy to engage with, and highly relevant to educators. Whether used to launch the year, reenergize staff midyear, support teachers during a challenging season, or close the year with reflection and growth, Tom’s message meets educators where they are.

The workshop brings laughter, movement, and connection into the room—while giving teachers a practical mindset tool they can use personally and professionally.

When teachers learn to say “how fascinating” in the face of a dropped ball, they also learn a new way to approach setbacks, challenges, and growth.

And that is a lesson worth bringing back to every classroom, at any time of year.

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By: Midwest Speakers Bureau