Naomi Riley Of Text Pledge On The 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School

An Interview With Jake Frankel

Watch their after-school learning environment. Make it an everyday routine for learning and preparing for the next day. In our house, when my kids were young, we would have time for a snack, and then homework would normally get finished right away. Young minds are typically still in that learning mode right after school, making it easier for them to remember what was learned that day. In our home, completing homework came with a small reward: the ability to play with friends, a trip to the ice cream store, or a special game they enjoyed.

School is really not easy these days. Many students have been out of school for a long time because of the pandemic, and the continued disruptions and anxieties are still breaking the flow of normal learning. What can parents do to help their children thrive and excel in school, particularly during these challenging and anxiety-provoking times?

To address this, we started a new series called ‘5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School.” In this interview series, we are talking to teachers, principals, education experts, and successful parents to learn from their insights and experience.

As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure to interview Naomi Riley.

Naomi Riley, a brain injury survivor turned influential motivational speaker, has catalyzed change in mental health and education reform. Her personal triumph over adversity underpins her advocacy for inclusive education for those with mental health issues and cognitive challenges.

Naomi is also a founder of Text Pledge, a nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI, that seeks to change the world one pledge at a time. Her 32 Activity books for K-12 students underscore her commitment to educational improvement.

Riley’s consulting agency, which flourished by providing pivotal financial guidance during the 2020–2021 pandemic, has become a multi-million dollar enterprise, making her services highly sought after. As she champions neurodiversity and mental well-being, Riley is inspiring a broad spectrum of individuals educators to policymakers — to redefine success and support every individual’s potential to thrive in all aspects of life.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us a bit about your “backstory”?

Growing up with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, I faced challenges that most children never have to consider. The journey through youth is already fraught with difficulties, but adding a physical disability to the mix created obstacles that affected both my body and mind.

All I wanted was to be treated like any other student, but sometimes that simply wasn’t possible. Life has a way of teaching us profound lessons. As a parent to three wonderful children and a mentor to hundreds more, I’ve come to understand the mix of excitement, anxiety, and sometimes fear that accompanies each new school year. These feelings are universal, yet uniquely personal for every student.

In 2017, my world changed in an instant when a distracted driver collided with me. The resulting brain injury and other permanent damages forced me to adapt to a new normal — a process more challenging than most can imagine. This experience, though difficult, gave me a fresh perspective on life. I realized that each day is truly a gift and that we often have little control over life’s twists and turns.

In today’s world, our youth face an unprecedented array of societal and epidemiological challenges. Witnessing this, I felt compelled to create programs that teach young people how to recognize potential dangers. My research into these issues was eye-opening and, admittedly, sometimes disheartening. Our society has made remarkable progress in many areas, yet significant problems remain unsolved, contributing to rising anxiety levels among our youth.

During my hospital stay, I had an epiphany. I wondered, “What if we could create a space where students could learn about preventing these various dangers? A place where they could understand the statistics and reach out for help if needed?” This idea became my mission. Together with my team, we’ve developed programs for K-12 schools and organizations that equip students with the knowledge to navigate the perils of our modern world. Our goal is to empower young people, helping them feel more secure and prepared as they face life’s challenges.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The most interesting thing that has happened is our continued growth with the programs, and when I hear that the programs have made a difference in a student’s life, it truly warms my heart. When I hear a student say, “This has helped me so much!” Thank you for creating and helping to implement these programs. “The Text Pledge programs have helped me heal from the loss of my brother,” said one of our students. Our programs teach not only prevention but also healing from the effects of situations that occur.

Also, another lesson that I’ve learned is that everyone’s journey is unique and needs to be treated as such. Not one of us is alike, and the way we learn, grow, and evolve is different as well. Preparing students for potential crises is extremely important in today’s culture.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“This too shall pass” — this phrase is of great importance for you and your children. The ages when our brains are most impressionable are from ages “7–12” when impulsive behaviors tend to occur. However, this age can vary depending on a student’s circumstances.

No matter what happens in life, though, “This too shall pass.” From bullying situations, discrimination, or just unfortunate circumstances, “This too shall always pass.” That saying always helps remind me that my circumstance is just temporary when I have a difficult day with friends or peers.

It is important that I turn my anger or frustration inward towards myself and say, “How can I toughen up and not let a person affect me so much?” In my day, I was mocked for a limp that I had, and at times, I would be teased for it. Some days it would really tug at my emotions and cause sadness. On other days, I would ignore the bully.

It takes quite a bit to control your emotions when you’re being bullied or treated wrongly. If you can do that, remind yourself that you are not the problem; the one making fun of you has the problem and needs help. You will be golden, and “This too shall pass;” the situation will always change.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

These three character traits are passion, resilience, and determination.

Passion. I have many passions in life. I’m a natural-born leader and creative. I look for things that can help others and find a space to do this. Even though my brain injury happened in late 2017, I still feel like I’m playing catch up with my learning at times and will always be a constant student.

While others have said I’ve been known to have the savant syndrome, I’m still reminding myself to make the best of my creative abilities to be used for good. Text Pledge became a huge passion project of mine from the beginning. I knew I needed to help create something to protect students and others more, but I really wasn’t sure how I would do it.

During that time, I could barely walk, talk, or understand many different concepts or complex problems after my injuries. I kept praying for God to lead my way. At times, I felt as if my brain was on fire to solve these societal epidemiological issues.

Sometimes good things take time to develop and create. As I continued to recover and conduct the necessary research in every area the project represents, I ensured I made progress with it, no matter how big or small each week. Seeing the project through remained a priority for me. When things get tough, we tend to want to give up and walk away.

This brings me to my next characteristic trait, which is resilience. If you tell yourself that everything will happen “Not in my time, but in God’s time,” it becomes much easier. There were so many things that I couldn’t control after my accident, and it was very hard to accept help from others. It can be for many of us. Everyone in their lifetime will need help from someone at one time or another. It’s just part of life.

Anyway, with Text Pledge and my physical rebuilding, there were numerous setbacks. The question was “How”? For me, it involved extensive rehabilitation with cognitive and physical therapy, as well as pain management. For Text Pledge, it meant consulting, interviewing, and assembling the right teams who knew how to bring something really cool to fruition. The resilience within each one of us can be strong, as long as one truly has a passion for whatever they are doing to see it through. Without passion for a project, many will simply give up.

Determination is another key characteristic I hold. So looking back now, even 7 years ago to my childhood, I would’ve never dreamt I’d be where I’m at. From my youth, I had to be determined to keep my mobility, which still holds true today. I also needed to be in a place of faith and to make sure I protected myself from all of the chaos and evil our world can hold. I would always be determined in my faith with a prayer that if it was in God’s plan to shine his light on this project, then who am I to hold anything back? I am just a messenger.

We are all here to help others along the journey. Whether it be to heal, guide, direct, give a boost of confidence, or a nice smile: it’s our job to teach and educate as mentors. Now, trust me, mistakes can be made, and I’ve definitely made plenty of my share. But we will all be tested at one point or another. In some situations, we will be taught lessons.

For me, as having had a brain injury, knowing how to trust someone is the hardest part. I like to see the good in everyone, but unfortunately, our culture proves humanity can be difficult and selfish. The human race can be deceitful, have bad intentions, lie, cheat, and steal which causes a whole handful of issues for those with cognitive and physical disabilities. You’ll find a small section in our books regarding taking advantage of the most vulnerable, something I see as one of the biggest cardinal sins.

My best advice to those who have an underlying physical disability and have a calling in business: Be determined, use caution, and guidance from others, and just don’t give up on your goals. You never know; you could help and change someone’s life for the better without even knowing it.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

This is virtueventuresresellrights.com. I love it and it helps me stay creative!

I’ve built an AI course program so that anyone: (At any level) can learn the good things that will come about with artificial intelligence. This program is called FINAI.

You can find me either in the office or at home creating with either of these, speaking to a group, or on the important topics for Text Pledge. I love my life and believe every day is truly a gift.

For the benefit of our readers, can you tell us a bit about why you are an authority on how to help children succeed in school?

Our grade level and adult curriculums are extremely unique. We have integrated some of the most critical societal epidemiological issues that require immediate attention. These programs not only teach preventive warning signs but also provide students with key factors to help them succeed in school. Each program includes an administrator’s preview to demonstrate how students learn and succeed with the Text Pledge project curriculum implemented across various educational grade levels.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. Can you help articulate the main challenges that students face today that make it difficult to succeed in school?

There are many factors that play into situations where a student may not succeed in school.

First and foremost: Their Environment. How is their environment? Every day a student wakes up and gets ready for the school day, the parent or guardian’s job should make it a very positive experience. Kids face a variety of challenges when going into the school building and then entering the classroom, so making their morning experience before school every day is an important step.

But let’s address what is happening in their environment. Is there a safe and adequate space for children to study after school or whenever homework is assigned? A place for them to think clearly about things they learned that day, away from distractions? Or are there too many things around that could be deterring the student’s focus? Many of these distractions can include an unclean atmosphere, noisy background, cluttered room, siblings, or animals around, where the student might not be able to focus easily. A clean and less cluttered environment promotes well-being and encourages growth.

Is the student given too much screen time for online activities? This does not enhance growth. It’s okay to be vigilant in this area, as the increasingly digital world can be a dangerous one. Pay attention to what online activities are happening and the time they are occurring.

Another environmental hazard for students could be parenting, either too negatively or too positively. Are you a parent who is always telling a child what they are doing wrong? Remember, positive reinforcement is the only way to help a child learn in any regard. Remind each other that looking for the good in your child and showing them you’re in their corner will only help them thrive. On the flip side, “Positivity Parenting” without acknowledging faults is not healthy either.

Remember, if your child is showing signs of distress, it can come out in a variety of ways. When kids are having difficulties focusing, are in pain, or are seemingly lazy, make sure you are observing all signs within your child to get them the help and assistance they might need. Ask what might be the problem. Ask why they are not doing their best; it never hurts to ask and engage with your child on their level.

Another strong variable that students face in school is peer groups and exclusion. This is probably one of the hardest challenges a student faces, but it’s a part of life and growing up. In an ideal world, we make friends with kids early on and stay friends with them through adulthood. Does that normally happen? No, people change, have different interests, and unfortunately, learn the art of exclusion for various reasons. Students struggle with the age-old question of why.

Why doesn’t “Johnnie want to hang around Joey” anymore? I think we as adults can struggle with that question as well from time to time. The best approach might be to encourage your student to reflect on their last interaction with that friend.

Could something have happened, been said wrong, or were someone’s feelings hurt? Encourage them to make new friends. Meeting new people is an important part of life. Yes, it can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it is the only way growth happens. Sometimes really wonderful new friendships develop when we meet new people.

Always remind your students to present their best selves in front of others because, whether we like it or not, rumors spread. Presenting our best selves is crucial. Encourage proper hygiene and positivity. This helps everyone understand that every interaction is important. Even just a pleasant smile can brighten someone’s day.

Physicals, proper nutrition, and plenty of water are very important. Vitamins play a significant role in daily life. If a student is malnourished and does not have adequate levels of vitamins or iron, it can affect their daily life. Always recommend physicals and proper nutrition to stay healthy and mentally focused.

Adequate sleep time is important to help a child succeed in school. Not enough or too much sleep can hinder the brain from making the best decisions for success.

A student’s mental health might be my first topic of choice but last for this article. Help your student understand their anxieties, fears, or stress so they can identify and work through them. Harboring emotions is not healthy for students and children; it’s important that they are understood and managed.

Can you suggest a few reforms that you think schools should make to help students to thrive and excel?

I believe students need uniforms. Students have been given quite a bit of freedom to wear what they want, say or do what they want, and have opinions about many topics. It seems that children in the public sector have been given too many freedoms.

Every year, students take their lives due to bullying or discrimination situations that weigh too heavily on their mental health. To me, it is extremely important that rules about how our society should behave in the civil world need to be implemented early.

It’s crucial that the “relaxed way” becomes just a bit stricter until society can gain a better grip. Our nation has placed too many stressors on students, which isn’t fair to them. Eliminating their distractions or choices doesn’t hinder them; it helps them appreciate what they will have in adulthood.

Personally, I believe students do not need phones before 5th or 6th grade, depending on their home environment. Phones can impede growth. Even after they are given phones, they need to be highly monitored. The revolution of AI is transforming the digital space now more than ever, and double-checking everything is key to keeping students safe and away from predators.

Here is our primary question. Can you please share your “5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School?” Please share a story or example for each.

• Watch their after-school learning environment. Make it an everyday routine for learning and preparing for the next day. In our house, when my kids were young, we would have time for a snack, and then homework would normally get finished right away. Young minds are typically still in that learning mode right after school, making it easier for them to remember what was learned that day. In our home, completing homework came with a small reward: the ability to play with friends, a trip to the ice cream store, or a special game they enjoyed.
• Ensure they receive proper nutrition, vitamins, hydration, exercise, and mental wellness checks to stay on top of their responsibilities. While I cannot stress this enough, students should prioritize taking care of their bodies more now than ever.

While our culture encourages us to “keep up with the Joneses” or Kardashians, it hasn’t emphasized enough that all children and students are unique and should be treated as such, regardless of outer appearance. Yes, not all of us have the ideal body weight or physique, but it’s crucial that everyone is treated equally, focusing on inner health and well-being.

Remind yourself to go on a wonder walk each day, as I do. Wonder how much kinder our world would be if we all took better care of ourselves and our bodies? Perhaps we could even solve some of the complex problems society faces. Wonder what more you could do if you chose to exceed expectations?

• Ensure your student gets adequate sleep and develops a strong routine during the semester. It’s essential to help keep your child on track during the school year, just as it is for us as adults. Modeling good behavior at home will help students develop these habits as they grow older. Typically, bedtime for an early morning was between 9–10 PM if our students needed to be at school by 7:30 AM. Sufficient rest is crucial for optimal brain function.
• . Ensure your student has a warm and positive environment to thrive in. An environment filled with love, laughter, and happiness is key to showing your child or student that they matter, and everything they are involved in matters. Every interaction, friendship, and life experience they have is significant. Students need to understand that a high level of positive energy is essential for their well-being. While it’s important to keep things realistic, do everything you can to show them the love and support they need as they grow up and navigate through school.

Here’s an example: When (my daughter) Jenny was young and in grade school, she had a close friend named Sam whom she loved to play with before and after school. One day, Sam’s mom called to say that Sam had been rushed to the hospital emergency room and was seriously ill.

Within a month, Sam was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away shortly afterward. Life is incredibly precious, and each day we are here is a gift. We had to help Jenny understand that sometimes we are called back home to God or our creator, or whichever belief one holds, and the moments we share with others are invaluable.

As you know, teachers play such a huge role in shaping young lives. What would you suggest needs to be done to attract top talent to the education field?

To attract the top talent in education, teachers and educators need to be given much more than they currently have. First and foremost, teachers and educators should have a love for shaping young minds.

In my opinion, the way students are taught should be presented differently to attract top talent. Instead of 25–30 students per classroom, hire more teachers and create hybrid student groups that will help both students and their educational support staff excel. Provide various learning experiences based on individual interests. Personalize everything more for both instructors and students.

We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

I would love to have breakfast with someone like Sam Altman (an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the CEO of OpenAI) or a venture capitalist who can champion what we have created. We still have a long way to go, but I envision Text Pledge in every nation, sharing our curricula, statistics, and emergency hotlines to enhance student safety beyond current efforts.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

You can check out the Text Pledge website, its Instagram page, Facebook page, or TikTok page. You can also find my LinkedIn profile via this link.

Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!