
What schools are saying…
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"Every year we bring an online safety presentation to our school. The same presentation had been taking place for the last five years, so it was time for change. I invited Ben out to speak to all of the students at my school site in grades TK-8. Ben did three separate presentations for the students that were all grade level appropriate and amazingly impactful. Additionally, he came back at night to give the parent presentation, which was incredible. Ben is relatable, captivating, and delivers a crucial message with so much enthusiasm and ease that the audiences were hooked from the beginning. His passion for what he does, shakes people to the core and forces them to open their ears and eyes. He is doing amazing things in this country!"
— Elaina Stokes, Middle School Principal, St. Junipero Serra Catholic School (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
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"Ben Tracy recently spoke to our 3rd-8th grade students and their parents, delivering an engaging and impactful presentation. He does an excellent job of providing factual, thought-provoking information while ensuring his message is age-appropriate. His approach makes students aware of the dangers of the internet without instilling fear, instead fostering awareness and responsible decision-making. Ben’s presentation to parents was just as powerful. He is direct and unafraid to challenge parents to take a more active role in protecting their children online. Through real-life stories, he highlights the risks of unchecked internet access and emphasizes that not everyone online is who they claim to be. His message is a crucial reminder that digital safety is a shared responsibility. We highly recommend Ben Tracy for any school or parent group looking for an engaging, eye-opening discussion on internet safety. His insights are invaluable in today’s digital world."
- Jennifer Simmons, Principal, St. Malachy School (Creston, IA)
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“Ben Tracy’s story is REAL and relatable! Our students were hooked from the start and appreciated Ben’s raw truth. We had two large assemblies where Ben addressed Middle School students and High School students. He was able to easily adjust his message for each group and make a positive impact. What made Ben’s visit even better was the fact that he was able to visit with some of our classes and in a smaller setting really answer some great questions. Additionally, I witnessed a POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL one-on-one as Ben helped a young man come to grips with a social media mistake he made several years ago. I can’t thank Ben enough for spending a great day at The Out-of-Door Academy in Sarasota, Florida.”
— Tim Brewer, Director of Student Activities, The Out-of-Door Academy (Sarasota, FL)
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“From the minute our school connected with Ben, we could tell he would bring relevant and valuable insights to our Junior High and High School students. We knew he would be the speaker we needed to reach our students. Ben’s current youthful experience provides the ability for him to connect with students and his expertise in all areas of social media bring wisdom and credibility. There is no better match. During his presentation to our students, Ben covered every area of social media, including the positive uses. He covered every area that our school would have wished to be covered. During our parent presentation, he passionately charged the parents to set up, engage and set boundaries in their homes while encouraging them to keep open communication with their children.”
— Stephanie Huber, Assistant Dean of Students, The King’s Academy (Sunnyvale, CA)
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“I invited Ben Tracy to share his story with our 5-8 grade students, during the school day, and our parents, in the evening. I knew that evening when parents walked in and told me what their child had said that Ben had made an impact! Ben did a fabulous job of connecting with both the students and parents. His real life experience, although most likely very difficult to continue sharing, let us all know the dangers of what we say or post, and the negative and serious impact this can have years later. His honesty with both students and parents about difficult subjects was passionately told, mixed with the seriousness of each topic. His willingness to travel around to help others, by sharing his story, and to compassionately convince others that mistakes can also be turned around is without reproach. Over the years I have listened to many speakers on a variety of subjects. Ben is without a doubt one of the very best. His passion convinces others, regardless of age, to listen and reflect. He is genuine in every way.”
— Dr. Barbara Marchese, Principal, St. Vincent de Paul School (Omaha, NE)
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“Ben was able to capture the attention of our student-athletes and keep them engaged for the full 45-minute presentation. His story provided a tangible example of how social media can impact your life even years after you tweet or post. I appreciated his vulnerability and willingness to share his experiences. Ben did a tremendous job connecting with our student-athletes and they appreciated the shared collegiate athletic experience. I would highly recommend bringing Ben to campus if you are looking for someone who can connect and provide a powerful message, especially with a younger generation.”
— A’dja Jones, Director of Student Athlete Development, Missouri State University Athletics (Springfield, MO)
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“We had the pleasure of hosting an incredible speaker to address our students in grades 5-8 about the dynamic world of social media, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! Ben Tracy was engaging with a perfect blend of enthusiasm, relatability, and expertise. He delivered an insightful talk, navigating the complexities of social media with a focus on empowerment and responsible usage. It was evident that Ben genuinely cared about the well-being of our students and aimed to equip them with the tools needed to navigate the digital landscape safely. We highly recommend this speaker to any school looking to provide their students with a positive and constructive understanding of social media. The impact of this talk will undoubtedly extend beyond the classroom, empowering our students to make informed and responsible choices online."
— Lisa McDuff, Christ the King Catholic School (Daphne, AL)ion goes here
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"Ben has presented to our middle and upper school community three times now. Two of those sessions have been specifically for parents and one for our entire student body. Each session has left our students, faculty, and families with a message that stuck. Our students find Ben relatable and his story engaging, and they left his presentation feeling empowered to ask questions to navigate the digital space wisely. Our families have shared even more encouraging feedback; they're leaving the conversation equipped to support their children at home with intention and understanding. Our school has found a powerful partner in Ben!”
— Kara Vaughn, Director of Teaching and Learning, St. George’s Independent School (Collierville, TN)
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“As the principal of a K-8 school, it is difficult to describe the impact Ben and Safe Social Network have had on our school, because it was so huge. Ben was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. He took the time to meet with me to personalize the presentations based on our school demographics and age range. The presentations themselves were so well done and so moving. He presented to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders with the perfect amount of ‘need to know’ while also making it age appropriate. He made a huge impact on our middle schoolers. After his presentation, I heard for weeks from our students how much they learned from Ben. Ben returned to our school to present to parents. It was another hugely impactful presentation, and the information sparked many very important conversations between parents and their children. This topic, and the way Ben presents it using his personal story, is absolutely essential for all students and their parents to hear.”
— Erin Dyer Zwahlen, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Principal, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School (San Diego, CA)
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“Ben Tracy recently visited our campus for two days, speaking to two parent forums in the evenings and to students in grades 4-12 during the school day. Ben was prepared, knowledgeable, humorous, professional, and most importantly REAL. As he shared his own story, students were drawn into understanding and believing that social media is indeed a two-sided coin that can bring temporary enjoyment and long-term dire consequences if not used with extreme caution. I would encourage any school to bring Ben to their campus to offer expert, age-appropriate discussions about current trends in social media apps, recommendations for families, and ideas for students to consider in their own usage. One important aspect of Ben’s visit to our school was his own journey and his growth through his struggles. Ben is authentic and doesn’t hide behind platitudes; parents are grateful for his honest approach and students are willing to listen to Ben because his story is genuine and he communicates his sincere care for individuals.”
— Iva Nell Rhea, Middle School Principal, Cypress Christian School (Houston, TX)
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“Ben Tracy joined us at Billings Central Catholic High School in Billings, Montana, and spoke to our student body as well as our parents in two separate presentations. We have had speakers talk to our students and parents about safety and social media in the past, but Ben’s words really hit home for both our students and our parents. Students innately seek authenticity and relevance from the speakers who visit our school. Because Ben’s message is based on real events and personal experience, his message checks both boxes. Students listening to Ben were both interested and engaged. Throughout the day following the presentation, students responded to the call to delete unknown contacts and followers from their social media platforms and delete social media apps known to be unsafe for students. Our parent group was equally engaged in Ben’s story. Through his personal story and the knowledge he has since gained related to safety in social media Ben immediately forged a connection with our parents. Throughout his presentation, he addressed their most pressing concerns and provided relevant new information. He took the time to answer every question brought forth by our parents, from the most basic to the most complicated, elaborating on information where needed. Ben’s professionalism was evident throughout the day, and his honesty and direct approach positively impacted both our students and our parents, making his message that much more powerful.”
— Shel Hanser, Principal, Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings, MT)
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"At Sacred Heart School in West Des Moines, we were privileged to welcome Ben Tracy to speak with our students and parents about digital citizenship, internet safety, and the impact of social media. His presentation was engaging, insightful, and incredibly relevant to the challenges young people face in today's digital world. Ben has a unique ability to connect with both students and parents, delivering a message that was not only informative but also empowering. He provided practical strategies for navigating online spaces responsibly, protecting personal information, and fostering a positive digital footprint. The real-life stories were both personal and impactful. This made the session eye-opening and relevant for all. I received many positive comments from both parents and students. We are grateful for the time and expertise Ben shared with our school community. His presentation has sparked meaningful conversations and reinforced our commitment to guiding students in making safe and ethical choices online. I highly recommend Ben Tracy to any school looking to educate and equip their students and families with the tools needed to thrive in the digital age."
- Scott Ehlinger, Principal, Sacred Heart School (West Des Moines, IA)
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“Ben Tracy is a captivating and relevant speaker for elementary students through high school students. He shares his own experience with social media in an age appropriate manner and students can all relate to his story in some way. The way he presents is authentic and vulnerable which helps everyone recognize ways they could improve their social media use. I highly recommend Ben as a speaker and I hope he continues to build on his program to make a meaningful and positive impact on children, teens, and even adults!”
— Elisabeth Trofimtchouk, LMFT
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“Ben Tracy was exactly what our school needed. He spoke to our 3rd-5th graders, 6th-8th graders, and our parents that evening. Ben addressed topics that we try to discuss, but he shares his own stories and relates them to each grade band he presents to. He presents authentic ways in which everybody, children and adults, can improve their social media. We look forward to having Ben Tracy back at our school as social media is ever changing. ”
— Liz Hein, Principal, St. Joseph Catholic School (Libertyville, IL)
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"Ben presented at our school over the course of two days. He was extremely flexible and worked closely with me to make the presentation perfect for our school community. Our students were extremely engaged with Ben's presentation. His own personal story was very interesting to our students and he provided them with some great tips for how they can remain safe if they use Social Media. Our parents were extremely thankful for providing them with information on a topic they didn't know a lot about in an effort to help keep their children safe.”
— Matt Rucinski, Principal, St. Pius X School (Loudonville, NY)
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"Ben was the perfect speaker for our middle and high school students. His content was relatable and his method of delivery was impactful. Students were interested in the discussion around the dangers of social media and the digital age, and Ben was able to help listeners connect to the true risks of unsafe usage by immersing them in the experiences of other kids around the country. Since he left, our students have continued the conversation around online safety, and we have been able to use the event to open a dialogue with our learners and their families."
— Ana Belk, School Counselor, Concord Academy (Memphis, TN)
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“Ben Tracy's message is invaluable to students and adults. His student presentations were age-appropriate and engaging. He was able to address topics and threats surrounding social media and other popular applications thoroughly. He recounted many authentic stories that he has encountered through the creation of Safe Social Network. He provided actionable steps to improve the safety of application use. Our students are living in an ever-changing technological world and, as educators, it is our responsibility to teach and demonstrate the impact that their publicly spoken words and posted pictures have to future generations. Ben Tracy's presentation does just this. His adult presentation was a "mic drop". He shared statistics regarding the mental health and well-being of our youth and asked the audience to reflect on the impact cell phones have on these numbers. He weaved in and out of the conversations he had during the student presentation so adults had potential talking points to cover at home. He offered many suggestions on how the safety and security of our students can be improved by establishing expectations and creating appropriate use plans. He even highlighted specific settings to enable/disable in a few popular applications.”
— Kristel Spike, Principal, St. Augustin Catholic School (Des Moines, IA)
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“Cardinal Stritch University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics invited Ben Tracy to speak to all our student-athletes and coaches. As a former college student-athlete himself, Mr. Tracy immediately captured the attention of our student-athletes. His presentation was very appropriate and very timely. He used his contemporary experiences within the social media culture and related these experiences directly to our student-athletes. Highlighting some actual social media postings from our student-athletes, the group responded with an unnerving calm. Then, he skillfully moved the conversation to how these current posting could have a negative impact on future employment of our student-athletes. Additionally, he engaged our group with decision-making strategies on how to be better leader, a better teammate, a better friend. Following his presentation, we surveyed our student-athletes, with overwhelming affirmation; they agreed Mr. Tracy’s presentation had a significant impact on how they present themselves on social media platform and how to be a better student-athlete.”
— Dr. Tim Val Alstine, Associate Vice-President & Director of Athletics, Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee, WI)
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“Social Media is problematic for every school in America. Like most schools, we were looking for a manner to connect with our students about the power of social media. Ben Tracy was the answer to our needs. Through his personal testimony, Ben connected with our students. He immediately captures their attention and holds it throughout his entire presentation. Through his experience and his delivery, the students left our assembly on social media with a new understanding of how insecure their privacy truly is. If you need to communicate with your students and parents on social media, I highly recommend you schedule Ben Tracy to speak into their lives. Our parents loved his presentation and were engaged with Ben asking questions. You will not regret bringing Ben into your school.”
— Dr. Tim Anderson, Head of School, Providence School (Jacksonville, FL)
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“When a parent calls me the day after Ben spoke to our high school and asks who the speaker was because her son could not stop talking about him, you know he’s got a great message. Ben’s vulnerability in sharing his own personal mistakes and lessons will absolutely help students across the country to understand the power of social media and it’s consequences if used inappropriately. Ben is timely, authentic & relatable.”
— Dr. Kristen Craft, Former Andover High School Principal (Andover, KS)
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“Ben’s own story was captivating and relevant to the students in attendance as well as the teachers, parents and other adults. Ben has a powerful way of engaging and relating to the audience as well as to bring real-time situations and data into his presentations. What impressed me the most about Ben was his interest in those he was speaking to and his approachability and gift of time he invested after the presentation in speaking to all who wanted to and answering questions and giving insight. I highly recommend Ben and look forward to our paths crossing once again in the future.”
— PJ Deming, Principal, Monterey Bay Academy (La Selva Beach, CA)
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“Ben’s ability to connect with all stakeholders (parents, faculty, high school students and middle school students) proved to be beneficial due to his knowledge of social media and real-life experience. We highly recommend anyone working with teenagers to consider allowing Ben to share his story.”
— Sondra Morris, Principal, St. Benedict at Auburndale High School (Cordova, TN)
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“Mr. Tracy’s story is an attention-grabbing, real-life example of the power of words, particularly in today’s context of social media and public scrutiny. It served as a wake-up call to our students that had many of them scrambling–in a positive way–to make practical changes. Mr. Tracy’s open and honest sharing also served as a testimony to the value of authenticity, reflection, repentance, learning from one’s mistakes, and being willing to turn around and teach others.”
— Matt Cunningham, Bible Teacher & Chapel Coordinator, Aurora Christian School (Aurora, IL)
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“Ben Tracy gives a very personal account on how the misuse of social media can come back to haunt students in their careers, college applications, scholarships, etc. After his presentation, we had several students show concern regarding their social media content as well as inquiring about how to delete or better secure their accounts. Our school district has discussed making this a regular presentation as a way to promote more responsible social media use.”
— Carrie Griffith, Principal, Wethersfield Junior-Senior High School (Kewanee, IL)
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“Ben grabbed our students attention from the get go. He spoke to our whole school, grades 6-12 and did an excellent job keeping all ages engaged. His personal story has the power of a first hand experience which resonates more with students than anything we can say to them as adults about the pitfalls of social media. Ben also makes a point of showcasing the positive ways to use social media. Using his own story, Ben has created a thoughtful, sensitive and timely presentation. Our parents also had the opportunity to hear Ben’s presentation and it was very well received. If you can bring him to your school, do it!”
— Trish Cox, Dean of Students, The MacDuffie School (Granby, MA)
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“When a parent calls me the day after Ben spoke to our high school and asks who the speaker was because her son could not stop talking about him, you know he’s got a great message. Ben’s vulnerability in sharing his own personal mistakes and lessons will absolutely help students across the country to understand the power of social media and it’s consequences if used inappropriately. Ben is timely, authentic & relatable.”
— Dr. Kristen Craft, Former Andover High School Principal (Andover, KS), 2021 Kansas High School Principal of the Year
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“When I made the decision to bring Ben Tracy to our campus to talk to our student athletes about social media, I did not realize how much Ben would change our student athletes’ knowledge about social media. His presentation is very heartfelt, engaging and very effective to any Students or Students Athletes across our nation. His presentation connects with both men and women at any grade level. Ben’s presentation interacts with the audience and has great examples from the group he is talking with. I would highly encourage you to book Ben as soon as you can. You and your group will not be disappointed with his presentation.”
— Darren Pannier, Athletic Director, State Fair Community College (Sedalia, MO)
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“Ben Tracy gives a very personal account on how the misuse of social media can come back to haunt students in their careers, college applications, scholarships, etc. After his presentation, we had several students show concern regarding their social media content as well as inquiring about how to delete or better secure their accounts. Our school district has discussed making this a regular presentation as a way to promote more responsible social media use.”
— Carrie Griffith, Principal, Wethersfield Junior-Senior High School (Kewanee, IL)
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“Ben Tracy did an amazing job at presenting a real-world issue that students may be aware of but do not take seriously. From the start, he is able to catch the students’ attention by showing them how easy it is to see what they put on social media. By sharing his own personal story of what happened to him when he misused social media at a young age, the students were able to better understand that their actions on social media can have lasting effects on their lives. On multiple occasions, I have heard that Ben’s talk was one of the most impactful talks that we have hosted at the school. Parents, teachers, and students all agree that it was important for everyone to hear what Ben had to say.”
— Dang Nguyen, Dean of Curriculum, Mary Star of the Sea High School (San Pedro, CA)
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“Our school community participated in a virtual presentation entitled Navigating Life In the Digital Age by Ben Tracy in March 2021. This presentation exceeded our expectations. Specifically, Ben understood that his audience included both adults and children and tailored his discussion to meet their needs. He shared timely information in a methodical manner that was easy to understand. His common-sense tips for both children and adults were very valuable. I would highly recommend this presentation for both general and special education populations.”
— Dr. Robin Johnstone, Head of School, Meredith-Dunn School (Louisville, KY)
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“Ben Tracy came to our campus and gave our school quite the education in social media. Mr. Tracy, through his great story telling, told our students a powerful message on the dangers of the internet. His own personal story left our kids wondering “what happens if that was me effect”! Mr. Tracy not only showed us his story but he was able to do extensive research into the problems that our own school was going through by finding numerous situations that are occurring in our school. Mr. Tracy’s story and message is a must for all students and adults to hear!”
— Walter Townes, Former Dean of Students, Knox School (St. James, NY)
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“Ben Tracy’s message is meaningful and timely. If you are serious about getting your students to understand the dangers, pitfalls and power of the current social media platforms, Ben’s presentations are relevant and attention grabbing for all ages. Ben’s story is compelling and he not only defines the issues but he offers solutions which help reform students use of social media. It is encouraging to know individuals like Ben Tracy have taken on this challenge while offering helpful resources to address the issues at hand. I would highly recommend including Ben Tracy in your plans to support a positive student culture.”
— David Welling, Head of School, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)
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“It was hard to hear, but needed to be said. Ben made three separate presentations to our students, broken out by grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school), and his understanding of each age group was immediately apparent. Students listened attentively and asked great questions. You could have heard a pin drop as Ben shared his story -- he speaks from the heart and comes from a place of having learned from his own experiences. After each talk, individual students felt comfortable coming up to Ben to ask personal questions about their own social media interactions and behavior. In the evening, Ben presented to over 100 parents of students of all ages, and our post-event survey indicated that they found his information extremely helpful. He is approachable, relatable, and worth every moment of the time spent with him.”
— Kathryn Boero, Middle School Division Head, The Prairie School (Wind Point, WI)
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“Ben Tracy did an exceptional job with our students and staff at Forest Lake Academy. He was able to connect with them in ways that I have never seen from any other presenter we have invited to address them on such sensitive topics related to social media use. Ben’s confidence coupled with his ability to connect with our students captured their attention from the moment he walked on stage until he was through with his presentation. Ben’s real-life experiences and in-depth knowledge about the ins and outs of social media use and the life changing impact it can have on your life was enough to secure the respect and undivided attention from all our students. Ben’s authentic and measured approach to sharing his personal story about his life changing social media experience had a profound impact on all of us.”
— Jaymie Pottinger, Vice Principal, Forest Lake Academy (Apopka, FL)
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“Technology and its influence on our teenagers is an important topic for our school. Every year we have a speaker on the topic. Ben Tracy has been one of the favorites. Before the presentation, Ben made coordination very easy. If you have ever worked with public speakers before, you understand that some can be high maintenance. Ben was easy to work with, flexible, and personable. Ben did two presentations for our school: A student presentation during our chapel time and an evening presentation for our parents. Students and teachers loved the message during the chapel time. I had nothing but positive feedback, which is something I rarely get. According to my teachers, Ben was engaging, entertaining, and impactful. During the evening presentation with parents, multiple parents came to me afterward and told me we should invite Ben back. One of my concerns with speakers on this topic is that they come in too soft. Ben came in with the reality that the dangers of social media and technology is something we cannot ignore. He used facts, data, and engaging personal stories to relay this message, and it was well received. In short, your school will benefit greatly from having Ben speak. Get him in front of your parents and students with this crucial information!”
— Paul Ellsworth, Head of Lower School, Franklin Christian Academy (Franklin, TN)
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"We hired Ben Tracy to speak to the students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade (broken into four different age groups) as well as a parent session in the evening. His message was phenomenal. He tailored the issues to each age group excellently and delivered a powerful message to the students, teachers, and parents. His message was also practical, because he knows teens are not likely to delete social media or get rid of smartphones. Instead, he offered advice on how to use it responsibly. He gave real life examples of how serious this issue has become and offered for students to ask questions or discuss any problems they have encountered with him. As someone who has become passionate about this issue for my children’s sake, I could not have found a better person with a better message and cannot say enough good things about him. Money and time well spent. I hope to hear him again in the near future."
— Laura McLemore, President, Catholic Parent Organization at Cathedral Catholic School (Natchez, MS)
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“Ben Tracy presented a compelling and cautionary tale, sharing his experience with students to warn them firsthand of the pitfalls of social media and digital addiction. He immediately captured the attention of our students by tailoring his presentation to their own social media posts. By connecting their current behavior to Mr. Tracy’s personal experience, our students were able to discern whether their online comments had the potential to create any negative outcomes. Following Mr. Tracy's presentation, students heeded his call to action by reviewing and amending their online presence. Mr. Tracy addressed the more subtle detrimental effects of social media and excessive screen time, presenting research about the negative mental health outcomes associated with each. He also covered broader societal issues and ways to ensure that our digital presence is one that reflects our school community's emphasis on inclusivity and respect for all persons.”
— Janet Hill, Director of Counseling, Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)
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“Mr. Tracy’s story is an attention-grabbing, real-life example of the power of words, particularly in today’s context of social media and public scrutiny. It served as a wake-up call to our students that had many of them scrambling–in a positive way–to make practical changes. Mr. Tracy’s open and honest sharing also served as a testimony to the value of authenticity, reflection, repentance, learning from one’s mistakes, and being willing to turn around and teach others.”
— Matt Cunningham, Bible Teacher & Chapel Coordinator, Aurora Christian School (Aurora, IL)
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"Immediately Ben was able to relate to our middle school students. They were shocked to hear that something that was posted online could come back and haunt you years down the road - as it did for Ben. They were captivated by his story and in conversations after the presentation the students tried to see how their actions today might affect them as they apply to colleges, in their job searches and even potential social interactions later in life. Teachers and parents are critical in the proper steering of a child when they are introduced to the internet, but for students to be able to hear from someone else, now that is really powerful. Ben's presentation is powerful."
— Michael Yurk, Principal, St. Paul Lutheran School (Grafton, WI)
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“I highly recommend Mr. Ben Tracy as a guest speaker on the subject of Social Media. Ben's real-life experience resonated with our students and parents. He was able to connect with them on a level that not many speakers can. After his high school presentation, one student commented, "His story was real and it made me stop and think about the things that I have posted." Ben also spoke at our intermediate school and the students there had so many comments and questions that he actually stayed almost an hour longer to talk with them. He really cares!"
— Mary Lanier, Principal, Deer Creek-Mackinaw High School (Mackinaw, IL)
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“Ben Tracy's presentation is real for the students and carries a lot of meaning as he shares his personal story of how his previous social media use affected his adult life. His honesty sheds light on how important it is to remember what you do today in the world of social media can have a great impact on your future! We also found his parent presentation to be well done and it really hit home with the parents in attendance how important it is to monitor their child's use of social media. What I appreciated the most is that he told parents to WAIT to get their child a Smartphone - this is the only way to avoid the issues we are dealing with when it comes to middle school students and the effects social media use has on them!”
— Dawn Walker, Principal, First Immanuel Lutheran School (Cedarburg, WI)
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“I would recommend Mr. Ben Tracy to any school district. In today’s social media craze, students do not understand how their comments now can have a lasting effect on their future. Mr. Tracy’s experience hit home for my students. His story and background was very relatable for my students. It is one thing for me as the principal to warn students about using social media properly. It is another thing for them to hear of an actual real-life experience and hopefully learn from it.”
— Brad Gooding, Principal, Rushville-Industry High School (Rushville, IL)
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“Our students really enjoyed Ben’s presentation. They also appreciated that he made a mistake and was able to keep going and help others along the way. The teachers met with kids in their advisory period (small groups) and had discussions after the presentation. Every teacher told me this was the best discussion they have had with the students regarding cyberbulling, online safety, and social media. Our counselors also reported that several students came to see them for help.”
— Tania Dupuis, Principal, Dansville Jr/Sr High School (Dansville, MI)
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“Ben Tracy shared his story in separate presentations to the students and parents at Trinity High School. Exit surveys revealed that his words had a great impact on our kids, causing them overwhelmingly to consider more caution with social media use, even reducing the use in some cases. The students remarked that his examples, drawn from his own life story, connected with what they have seen their own friends post and share online. In some cases, the students admitted to posting similar things themselves. This made the consequences that Ben narrated from his own experiences even more relevant to them. Our students found him informative, honest, and engaging. We highly recommend Ben as a resource for any school facing social media issues among its kids.”
— John W. Cominsky, Principal, Trinity High School (Camp Hill, PA)
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“Ben Tracy was a delight to work with. He was very professional. He has a clear passion for what he does and the reasons why he presents to teens. Ben’s personal narrative made for a more effective presentation for our students and their parents. We have reached out to him after his presentation and has been a great contact for us. We were very grateful for him and his presentation for our school community.”
— Ana Oliva, Principal, Epiphany Catholic School (Miami, FL)
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“Ben Tracy spoke to our 5th through 8th grade students and our parents. His powerful story about how teenage social media impacted his life resonated with our community. It caused them to pause and reflect on their own social media use and the impact it could have on their lives. Sharing his personal story allowed the students and parents to connect with Ben on a personal level and they were open to hearing this important message. The students were very engaged in the presentation. Many students stayed after the presentation to speak with Ben and to ask him questions. It is evident that Ben’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people around the country.”
— Lourdes Krause, School Counselor, St. Agnes Academy (Key Biscayne, FL)
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“Ben Tracy traveled to speak with our middle school students and our parents and guardians in the community. His presentations to both groups were informative and timely. His vulnerable story was exactly what our students needed to hear. He speaks from the heart about the consequences of social media and the way it can affect their futures. He gave practical tips for both students and parents for minimizing social media’s negative effects. The feedback from students, teachers, administrators, and parents was extremely positive! We would recommend him to anyone looking for ways to proactively aid students and parents in the use of social media.”
— Callie Painter, Student Success Coordinator, Oak Ridge Schools (Oak Ridge, TN)