School Visits

Candida would love to visit your school! She does each classroom as well as school assemblies. It is Candida’s goal to educate, encourage, and inspire others. She is available to speak at your event on any of the topics listed. She can customize her speech to your specific needs.

Time: 3o minutes to 1 hour

Price: Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com or candida@candidasullivan.com.

Speaking Topics

• Understanding and Celebrating Differences— Candida addresses her scars caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome and her viewpoint on life. She makes sure the kids understand that she survived the trauma and is alive to love and to be loved. She never allows her condition to become pitied or viewed as anything but a blessing.
• Bullying— Candida knows the effects and turmoil of bullying causes. She has lived it and overcomes it. She reinforces positive behavior when it comes to any type of bad situations. She encourages the children to fight bullying with kindness. Candida explains to the kids that the ones, who treat us the worst in life, need our kindness the most.
• Making a Difference— Candida always encourages the children to strive to make their world a better place. She promotes working hard, helping others, and the benefits of a smile.
• Overcoming Circumstances—Candida shares some of her struggles and as well her secrets to overcoming hardships. She offers tips and hope for beating the odds.
• Literacy Encouragement—Candida highlights the gifts of reading. She points out the benefits and rallies to get the kids excited about books.
• Positive Thinking—Candida discusses the power of positive thinking. She uses examples and shows how important it is to train our minds to think for success.
• Becoming a Survivor—Candida addresses the fact that bad things do happen to us sometimes, but she uses her life story to teach others how to transform from a victim to a survivor.

Following are various types of school visits that Candida offers. She also offers custom visits for each school to meet individual needs. She will also talk about any topic listed above at the teacher’s request. Candida always provides an opportunity for kids to ask her questions.

• Story Time and Zippy Mask – Preschool through 1st grade
  Candida will read her book to the students, and the class will make a Zippy mask afterward. She uses the mask to show the beauty of differences. She also gives the students a Zippy coloring sheet from her book.

Total time: 3o minutes to 1 hour
Price: Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com

• Zippy Play – 2nd grade through 4th grade
  Students will get an opportunity to act out one of Candida’s books. She will have different masks for the characters in her books, and children will actually be a part of the story. Afterwards, she will talk about being an author.

Total time: 3o minutes to 1 hour
Price: Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com

• Writing Workshop – 5th grade through 8th grade
  Candida will use her book Zippy and the Stripes of Courage to explain the process of picture book writing. She will go through the steps and even show how to make a “practice” book. The children may also share their stories with her.

Total time: 1-3 hours
Price:  Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com

• Her book and Story – Single classrooms or school assemblies, any age
  Candida will read her book and cover many of topics listed above in her personal story. This is her general and most requested visit.

Total time: 1 hour
Price: Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com

Students love Zippy and always want a book to take home. Candida offers a special discount and autographs each book purchased. She encourages the school to send home a note to parents to explain her visit and give them a chance to pre-purchase book(s) for the child.

References 

Candida Sullivan is an author and friend who showcases her strengths and passion through her programs and books. Her testimony and words of encouragement for others who feel like they don’t belong or bullied because they are different is so powerful when she does a speaking program. Through her Zippy book journey, she has captivated audiences everywhere because children can and do relate to her stories. She is the “real” deal and will have you wiping a tear (or many) before the program ends. Captivating, motivating and engaging you won’t hear a pin drop when she tells her story!

Linda Partin, Frakes FRYSC Coordinator

Don’t miss the opportunity to have Candida Sullivan visit your school or Church group. She is incredibly inspiring and can connect with people of all ages. Candida has a story and testimony that will touch any audience.

Farra Shoffner, Coordinator, Middlesboro Family Resource Center

To refer to Candida Sullivan as a motivational speaker is an understatement. She has visited my classes at Southeast KY Community & Technical College on several occasions, moving some of my students to tears. Her enthusiasm and positive spirit always inspire those who are blessed to meet her and hear her story.

Amy Simpson, Associate Professor of English & Director, Middlesborough Little Theatre

Watch this video as Candida shares Zippy.