There isn’t a child on the planet incapable of achieving their dreams, according to Salome Thomas-EL – they just need someone “crazy about them.”

On this episode of FranklinCovey Education’s Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham welcomed “Principal EL” to the program to share his core beliefs about love, belief, perseverance, courage, overcoming adversity and more.

In addressing over 100,000 educators, parents, students and community members throughout his time speaking, Principal EL has endeavored to help audiences think deeply and critically about how we can change the culture of education, foster environments that cater to students’ tremendous potential, and build resilience in our children.

“I love making an impact on the lives of young people and adults,” he said. “As a kid, myself, I was supported by teachers – many of them who did not look like me. … Helping us achieve our dreams.”

The impact of those teachers, particularly in helping students overcome barriers to success and difficult family and community environments, moved EL to become an educator himself. As he puts it, it’s about telling kids, “You can be me, because I was once you.”

Environments that inspire hope can be developed in myriad ways, including one that may not immediately come to mind – chess. Professor EL has led and overseen many championship chess teams, all made up of students who found something to drive them toward community, self-improvement, discipline and more.