Guest Speaker Application  

Please Review 

This application is for school assembilies and (some) classroom presenters. All guest presenters will be vetted, applications and any submitted materials will be reviewed by a committe or school principal before approval is granted.

Please allow 6-8 weeks for review.

**PLEASE NOTE

Starting September 2024, schools are required to notify parents/caregivers about events and activities with guest speakers or performances 14 calendar days before the activity.  This information must include the following details about the activity:

• date, time and location
• title and topic or focus connections to the curriculum and/or purpose
• name(s) of the presenter(s), performer(s) and guest speaker(s) and the organization(s) they represent (if any)
• details of any handout materials, giveaways or literature to be provided 

Please make sure that all information that is shared is included with the application. ie. Handouts, Powerpoints etc. If you need to attach additional materials please email [email protected] 

Presentations Related to Mental Health

The Greater Essex County District School Board follows a decision-making process guided by School Mental Health Ontario for selecting student mental health awareness initiatives. These initiatives should be part of a comprehensive plan that includes follow-up support and opportunity for debriefing. Large group presentations that may include triggering content are discouraged because it is hard to monitor student reactions. For this reason, presentations about mental illness are best embedded in classroom lessons that can be explored and allow time for inquiry and self-reflection with a caring supportive adult.  

Before we bring a speaker into a school, it is important that we first observe their presentation, review their materials and social media content, and/or consult with trusted colleagues who have had experience with this speaker to ensure the content is appropriate for a student audience. We look for speakers who are drawing from evidence-informed materials that are inclusive and respectful of different ways of knowing and healing and to align messages with our mental health and addictions strategy, and with the cultures and identities of students served. This is established in advance so that we can obtain clear parent/caregiver consent for the student's participation in the presentation.

Staff are required to notify parents/caregiver 14 days in advance and share the topic/focus/materials. 

School Mental Health Ontario

Please contact [email protected]  or 519-255-3200 ext. 10289 if you have questions.