Ric Clayton, our annual guest speaker, wrapped up the year with a powerful session on “The Role of the Tutor – How to Be an Awesome One.”

We practised deliberate with positive phone calls and gained real clarity when Ric shared some compelling research:

Studies show that teenage boys can struggle to accurately interpret subtle tone and emotion when it's expressed by adults, particularly emotions like anger, sarcasm, or encouragement.

This sparked a thoughtful group reflection: as tutors and teachers, we need to be intentional in how we communicate—balancing clear boundaries with positive narration and instructional clarity. Distinctly with the tone.

Huge thanks to Ric for inspiring us to lead with empathy, purpose, and presence. 🙌