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Matthew Ratz

Consultant
Harness the Promise LLC
Country or state 
United States
Available to 
North America
Fee 
Languages 
English
Volunteer
Yes

Personal Details

Bio

This isn’t the easiest story for me to share…

​

For many, many years, I was the victim of intense, institutionalized bullying. Not typical schoolyard bullying; mine was pervasive, psychological, and insidious bullying from my first days at school.

As a child, and through high school, I attended a strict, parochial, Orthodox Jewish school, and from my very first days, I stood out. In an environment where conformity was the key to survival, I stood out. At age six, I decided to attend my first day of school in bright yellow pants and plaid shirt.

When asked, during what I later learned was an informal IQ test, "What color is the sky?" I told the psychologist it, "Looks a little grey today." From then on, I was labeled a troublemaker. Teachers and classmates alike glommed on to that label and reminded me, day-in and day-out, for thirteen years, that I didn't belong among them.

When I started questioning the fundamental traditions of my religion, around age 11 or 12, that's when the bullying really ramped up. It wouldn't just be classmates teasing me on the playground; my actual TEACHERS turned against me in the classrooms. One teacher even told my parents that, spiritually speaking, I was, "A lost cause."

I still don't know what serendipity empowered me to emerge from that dark space, but for the past decade, I have been fighting, day after day, on behalf of those for whom some else’s label is limiting their potential.

​

Whether it was students in an “on-level” class who were not expected to think for themselves, or disadvantaged students in one of the poorest schools in DC, to adolescents with special needs who were not receiving the required accommodations in their classrooms, I fought.

I moved on to fight on behalf of community college students who were being unfairly held back because they lacked the foundational skills to advance out of zero-credit remedial courses. Through supportive instruction, I helped more than 90% of these students not only advance into credit-bearing courses, but watched many cross the graduation stage.

I continued to fight for adults with autism, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities who were denied access to community-based employment and leisure activities. I supported dozens of adults, many of whom had never accessed public transportation, to use the community-based resources and explore their communities, enjoying restaurants and sports activities, and building confidence amid their non-disabled peers.

And now, I share my message with audiences around the Country and around the World. I speak to educators, advocates, and students themselves about the damaging act of labeling and the dangers of pernicious self-fulfilling prophecies. And I continue to fight on behalf of those whom others have “counted out.”

That is my calling.

Current position (3)

Consultant

Harness the Promise LLC

Adjunct Professor of English (part-time)

Montgomery College

Program Administrator

CHI Centers Inc.

Degrees (1)
Master of Education
University of Maryland - College Park
2005 to 2006

Presentations

Presentations (1)
Harness the Promise: help people reaching their potential

The world is effective at making people feel small. Whether in a school, a work place, or a political landscape, forces are working to convince individuals of their lack of value. What results is a population who believe they have nothing to contribute and nothing to gain. Organizations' aims should be the exact opposite; leaders need employees who believe in their potential to make a difference.

Past talks (3)
"Maximing Millennials' Motivations"
NISOD Conference on Teaching Excellence
Austin, TX
2014
"Differentiating Instruction to Maxmize Students' Motivation and Engagement"
The Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching
Bethesda, MD
2013
"Unlocking the 'Autism Code' to Enhance Individuals' Lives"
The NADD Webinar Series
Online
2015
  • All (2)
  • Videos
  • Photos (1)
  • Slides (1)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any videos yet.
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Books & Articles (6)

The Disruptor's Guide to Avoiding Disruption
Packrat Publications, Inc.,
2013
Biblical Stories for the Job Seeker
Lulu.com,
2010
"Shakespeare in Circles: How a New Approach Enlivened my Classroom"
"The Ultimate One-Night Stand"
"The Alien World of Work For Adults with Autism"
"The Millennial Psyche" in Operation: Millennials A Field Guide

Expertise (11)

Education
Social & Political
Entertainment & Art
Business
Professional Training challenging beliefs Bullying confidence challenge self-fulfilling prophecies Higher Education Leading Millennials

Awards & certifications (2)

Certified Employment Support Professional
Association for People Supporting EmploymentFirst
2015
Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate
Maryland State Department of Education
2006
Recommendations
Why choose me? 

I help people look beyond labels and harness the promise of their potential.

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