Erik Palmer Professional Development

Erik Palmer is a former classroom teacher turned author, consultant, and national speaker who has dedicated his career to improving how students communicate, think, and engage with ideas. With 21 years of experience teaching middle and high school English—plus a prior career in business—Palmer brings a rare blend of practical classroom expertise and real-world perspective to his professional development offerings. Palmer is best known for developing the PVLEGS framework (Poise, Voice, Life, Eye Contact, Gestures, Speed), a structured approach to teaching oral communication that gives educators concrete tools for building students' speaking confidence and competence. His books, including *Well Spoken: Teaching Speaking to All Students* and *Good Thinking: Teaching Argument, Persuasion, and Reasoning*, have become go-to resources for teachers seeking to embed communication and critical thinking skills across all subject areas. His professional development sessions are interactive, research-informed, and immediately applicable. Whether focusing on oral communication, argumentative writing, or reasoning skills, Palmer equips teachers with strategies they can implement the following day. His engaging presentation style—honed through years of keynotes and workshops at major education conferences—makes complex pedagogical concepts accessible and actionable for educators at every level.