Best selling author Dave Pelzer enthralled a crowd from around
central West Virginia Wednesday with a motivational talk at GSC Photo by Glenville State Public Relations Department
GLENVILLE - "Cowboy up."
That's the advice Dave Pelzer, best selling author and motivational speaker, gave to central West Virginia teachers and students who traveled to Glenville State Wednesday to hear him speak.
For an hour and a half, the 44-year old Californian commanded the stage as he motivated 350 people to be the best teachers they can be, despite the routine hurdles and problems of everyday life.
Teachers came from Gilmer, Calhoun and Braxton counties to hear Pelzer talk. Glenville State education students were also invited to the event.
"As a teacher this day in age, it's not going to be pretty," Pelzer said. "You gotta have a little bit of backbone to commit to your cause."
Problems always abound, he said, from divorce to abuse to apathy. But problems cannot stand in the way of student and teacher success, Pelzer stressed.
"Everybody has problems," said Pelzer. "Who on this planet isn't dealing with problems?"
Pelzer knows how to overcome adversity better than most people. He was severely abused by his parents when he was growing up. He was kept in the basement, not allowed to speak and physically tortured. He said teachers saved his life.
Pelzer wrote the best selling book "A Child Called It" about his young life, which has been on the New York Times bestsellers list for more than six years. He's written five other inspirational books, and is the only author to simultaneously have four, number one international best sellers and four books on the New York Times bestsellers list.
"Thank God for teachers," Pelzer said. "I was rescued by teachers."
Pelzer's mix of humor, wisdom and compassion enthralled the audience. They laughed along with him when he told jokes, and some people gasped when he detailed the horror of the abuse he suffered as a child.
"It was very moving," said Beth Johnston, a Glenville State education student who is student teaching in Upshur County this year. "What role models we are. Kids and adults are going to be looking up to us."
Pelzer continuously reinforced the notion that teachers have great influence in many lives, and encouraged West Virginia's teachers to expect more from their students. He said they need to help kids adjust to the fact that life just isn't fair.
"Our job is to kick them in the butt," he said. "Our job is to educate them any way we can."
In addition to being an author and motivational speaker, Pelzer served in the military as an Air Force Crew Member and has received personal commendations from Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In 2005, he received the National Jefferson Award in recognition of his public service.
A state Professional Development School Grant allowed the Glenville State Teacher Education Department to bring Pelzer to campus.
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