Meet Mr. Todd 

Terris Todd began his motivational speaking career with quite a critical audience – 30 sixth-graders in his classroom. 
 

More than 20 years later, Terris has significantly expanded his public speaking portfolio to include topics including politics, education and ministering the gospel to crowds who are inspired by his message. Terris credits his love for wanting people to succeed by using their gift for his continued success. 
 

Terris was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, and grew up there with his mother and two brothers in the home. His grandparents lived nearby and played a significant role in raising Terris, as well as his father, with whom Terris spent school breaks or weekends in Detroit. Terris is a product of the public school system, yet he was a school of choice student from grade school through high school graduation in 1991. 
 

In the fall of 1991, he attended Norfolk State University before returning to Michigan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Western Michigan University. He later received from WMU a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. 
 

Terris launched his education career as a sixth-grade teacher. His student data showed student successes in reading comprehension and writing, but many of his students have shared anecdotal stories with Terris and will tell you that Mr. Todd’s motivational stories played a much larger role in their classroom success than did a history book or classroom notes. After teaching for six years, Terris moved into middle and high-school administration for more than a decade. During this time he also was an adjunct professor at the collegiate level, was a top-level administrator at an alternative high school and was director of programming at a youth residential treatment center. 
 

It was also during this time that it was moved on Terris’ heart to make an impact in his community politically. He spent a decade as an elected official on the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners. As an elected official and community leader, Terris served on various non-profit boards and groups, and he graciously received awards for his dedicated work, including the Frederick Douglass Award and a Professional Leadership Award from the NANBPW. The most recent prestigious honor Terris received is having been inducted into the Battle Creek Central High School Hall of Fame, for his work as a teacher, administrator and local leader in government, ministry and education.
 

During his years as a local leader, Terris continued his motivational speaking events, speaking at school-related events, church-related events and in the corporate sector.
 

Terris and his wife, Karen are the co-founders of My Brother’s Keeper, Inc., a guardianship and conservator enterprise. In addition to owning a business, Terris is an ordained minister. Along with his wife, the two founded The Green Pasture campus ministry at Michigan State University and ministered the gospel to college students for several years. 
 

Terris is honored to have served on several state and national boards of director over the past several years, including the Michigan Chapter of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, Norfolk State University Foundation Board of Directors and, via party election, Vice Chair of the Michigan Republican Party. It was during this time that Terris began speaking to various conservative organizations across Michigan. He also spoke before right-to-life groups, GOP chapters and has spoken on many panel discussions, with topics varying from “Why I chose to be a Conservative” to “Knowing Who and Whose You Really Are.” 
 

In 2020, Terris was appointed by The White House to be the Executive Director of White House Initiatives on Educational Excellence for African Americans, where he highlights successful educational initiatives across the nation and spotlights them on a national platform. His initiative also aims to strengthen the nation by improving educational outcomes for students. One of his first initiatives after being sworn into office was hosting a Virtual Roundtable on “Fatherhood as an Essential to Student Success, viewed by educators and fathers across the country. 
 

Fatherhood is a passion topic for Terris. He is the author of “Father, Where Were (Weren’t) You.” When asked what's his mission in life, Terris said, "my passion in life is changing yours FOREVER ". 

Terris and Karen reside in Michigan, and have three teenage daughters, Destinny Marie, Naomi Leigh and Taren Elise.