Billy Staples, two-time winner of Disney's Teacher of the Year award and highly acclaimed motivational and educational speaker, will be the guest lecturer at a program on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gemmell Student Complex Multi-Purpose Room at Clarion University. The program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

            Co-sponsoring the lecture are by Clarion University's Student PA State Education Association; Kappa Delta Pi-International Honor Society in Education; University Activities Board; and Student Council for Exceptional Children.

            Staples' childhood was spent inside the Yankee and Phillies' locker room where he rubbed shoulders with baseball superstars Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and his idol Bobby Murcer. In 1993, literally hundreds of games and locker rooms later, Staples graduated Phi Beta Kappa from East Stroudsburg University and became an inner city English teacher in Bethlehem.

            For the next 13 years he used his friendships with ball players and their willingness to sign autographs as a motivational technique to get his students to come to school, behave and do their work.

            Staples told each student, "I don't teach Monday through Friday or September through June.  I'll teach you nights, weekends, summer and the rest of your life if you are willing to learn."

            His groundbreaking work helping troubled kids better their lives and make it to college was featured in a series on CNN.

            Staples, who has had several acting roles in television shows and movies, is also co-author of the national best seller "Before the Glory," ranked #5 among sports books. His book will be on sale at the Clarion event and Staples will be available to autograph it.

            Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.