The Engaged Classroom Report
Audience Feedback on Mar 10, 2026
Attendee Responses
78
100% found this session valuable
97% would hear this speaker again
Attendees found this session
Educational
98%
Relevant
97%
Engaging
97%
Memorable
96%
Summary: Transform Your Classroom: Discover the Four Powerful Cultures That Create Truly Engaged Learners
James O'Neal, Jr. delivered an incredibly inspiring and engaging session that left educators energized and equipped with practical tools to transform their classrooms! His authentic presentation style made everyone feel "spoken to rather than spoken at," while real-life student testimonials and videos showed the tangible impact of an engaged classroom. Attendees were especially moved by his framework of praise, competence, belonging, and autonomy—describing it as "tried and true" strategies backed by research that work in today's classrooms. One educator summed it up perfectly: "I wish I could have brought more future educators!"
Presentation Outcomes Achieved:
Build student competence not just by saying "you can do it," but by helping them believe it through peer support, giving them ownership of their data and progress, and providing what they truly need to succeed.
Create a joyful classroom culture where praise, belonging, and autonomy work together—giving students choices, classroom roles, and many opportunities to feel competent in their learning.
Remember that culture must be present and built to support content—tap into students' emotions and strengths to help them want to learn, not just what to learn.
How attendees describe this talk
I would say that he told us things that I haven’t entirely thought about in the way he explained it before. Understanding the full importance of being joyful in your classroom. And not only understanding how important your teaching is but also building your students up with your teaching as well.
Caitlin Brenner
In this session, Mr. O'Neal does a great job inspiring us as educators to pour into our classrooms to better shape their experience. I feel that I have been given useful tools to make sure that praise, competence, belonging, and autonomy are all present in my future classroom.
Melonda Sullivan
This was particularly helpful for how to build up students’ competence, not just by saying “you can do it” but by getting them to believe it by hearing from one another and being given what they need. It was also really helpful for how to give students autonomy in the classroom through choice and ownership. As a special education teacher likely to work with students with extensive support needs, I have some ideas I can adapt and apply, such as giving my students a part in their data and progress monitoring, giving them classroom roles, and many opportunities to succeed and feel competent in their learning.
Greta Oswald
It was very informative in ways that showed the “how” of how to make your classroom more engaged. It wasn’t something theoretical, it was something that was tried and true that worked. The way he spoke was that of someone who truly cares about his students, their accomplishments, and how to support his classroom.
Attendee
The energy of this event was alive and bright! I enjoy presentations where I feel spoken to rather than spoken at. I also found the division of cultures to be very helpful and relevant to an actual classroom setting. A truly amazing speaker and person.
Joanna Baldwin
This session was relevant and gave educators tips that make sense for today’s classroom teachers. It is informative and gives ways to engage students in the work and provides useful strategies with research based evidence behind why and how they work!
Alicia Swann
As a 16 year veteran teacher today was a great reminder of best practices and why we do what we do. Showing that culture must also be present and built to support content was powerful. That can sometimes get lost in a middle school setting.
Blanche Baxley
The session was very informational about how as a future educator I can ensure that I am doing everything in my power to help me students grow. There are different aspects which impact everyone and this session showed four main components.
Tiffany Trimmer
It was very informational and was presented in a way that was easy to understand. I was hooked. The information was useful and I like how we went into depth on the cultures of a classroom and how they can help engagement.
Marissa Ashe