By John Henry and Kim Matullo
Throughout my career in education, I’ve had the honor of guiding students both inside the classroom and beyond. I’ve worn many hats: K–12 teacher, school board member, mentor, facilitator, and educational program development leader. Each role provided me with the opportunity to deepen my belief in what it truly means to empower our youth, as well as the educators who are with them every day.
Several years ago, I faced one of the most challenging experiences of my life: a cancer diagnosis. However, something powerful also emerged out of that experience—clarity. I learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the choice to face that fear and move through it. This new understanding didn’t just shape my recovery, it changed how I led, how I taught, and how I connected with others.
I came to the realization of a deeper truth: academic achievement is not enough, and shouldn’t be the only measure of success. True success for our students must include emotional well-being, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate life’s uncertainties. We’re not just preparing students for tests, we’re preparing them for life. And life is unpredictable.
It was around this time that I met Kim Matullo, someone whose story and passion resonated deeply. Kim didn’t come from an educational background, but her personal journey mirrored the emotional battles so many students face.
Growing up in a dysfunctional home and living with a chronic skin condition, Kim carried shame and insecurity for years. But through practicing self-love, self-compassion, and empowerment, she began to heal. She turned her pain into purpose, dedicating herself to helping teens and families build lasting self-worth from the inside out.
When Kim and I met, we found common ground in our belief that healing and growth comes from within, and that students desperately need tools to navigate the emotional challenges they often face in silence. Together, we asked a simple yet transformative question: What if we could give teens practical tools to discover who they are, build emotional resilience, and believe in themselves—even when life gets messy?
That one question became the foundation for Empower Trip: A Teen’s Guide to Finding Your Inner Star Power, co-authored with lifelong educator and former assistant superintendent, Dana Hice DePugh.
Empower Trip is more than just a book, it’s a journey inward. It’s designed to help teens get to know who they are, love themselves and others, and recognize their incredible potential. In every chapter, there’s an invitation to reflect, grow, and build a foundation of self-worth that no grade or test score can define. For educators, parents, and mentors, it’s a guide to connecting with students on a deeper level, one that nurtures both their minds and their hearts.
This work is a reminder that when we prioritize emotional health, we don’t just teach students—we empower them to lead, to dream, and to thrive.
Empowerment in Schools
True empowerment for our students must start from within. The journey begins with building a foundation of self-worth: the belief that they are worthy of love, respect, and success simply because of who they are. This encourages students to take risks, persist through challenges, and develop resilience in both academics and life.
Schools can create the conditions for this to happen by providing spaces for students to express themselves, make connections, and develop a culture of belonging. These safe environments also foster students’ emotional resiliency through learning that is relevant, meaningful, and connected to issues and communities beyond the classroom. Through opportunities to participate in real-world problem-solving and leadership experiences, schools and educators can deepen understanding, encourage engagement, and instill a sense of purpose in their students.
Strategies for Empowerment
An empowered student is like dropping a stone in a calm lake—the ripples of empowerment have the potential to spread, not only throughout a school, but across an entire community. Imagine that kind of transformational power, with schools being the epicenter.
Here are three powerful examples of strategies that educators can start using with their students immediately:
- Kind Self-Talk: Encourage students to use affirmations and positive inner dialogue to build confidence.
- Refocus Your Lens: Helps students look for the good in others, especially during conflict, to build empathy and appreciation.
- A Different Perspective: Teach students to challenge negative stories they tell themselves by asking, “What’s another way to see this?”
At the heart of our work is this truth: students aren’t broken, they’re becoming. With the right support, they can discover the power they’ve had all along.
Let’s keep empowering from the inside out.
John Henry is a STEAM and Sustainable Schools consultant, Radical Remission Project Instructor, and certified Holistic Health and Wellness Coach through AAAI/ISMA. He is the author of Empower Trip: A Teen’s Guide to Finding Your Inner Star Power, as well as DesignQuest and Species on the Edge 2.0. His career includes work in science, sustainability, well-being, and creative youth development, bridging innovative learning with holistic personal growth.
Kim Matullo has built a thirty-year career in the television and film industry, working in various facets of production. Beyond the production office, she is the published author of PS – It’s All About Love: How A Painful Journey with Psoriasis Became a Life Devoted to Helping Others and Empower Trip: A Teen’s Guide to Finding Your Inner Star Power. Kim is also a motivational speaker and founder of The Love Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, mother, and her beloved pup, Cora. Visit her website to learn more.
