Every year, our staff comes together to kick off the school year in a "pep-rally" style. All 32 campuses and 2,300 employees gather to hear what the new school year will bring, introduce principals for the school year and there is usually a big announcement to unveil. 

Click HERE to see Convocation 2022 photo album.

Keynote Speaker: Stephen Mackey

Stephen Mackey is a player development coach, Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, and founder of 2Words Character Development.

In January 2017, Mackey asked the question: “What would it take to help one million athletes and coaches connect the dots between sports and life?” 

The answer to that question became 2Words Character Development (www.2words.tv). Built on the Six Pillars—Tough People Win, Integrity Over Everything, Growth Follows Belief, Excellence Everywhere, Relentless Effort, and Service Before Self— 2Words has become one of the top leadership and character curriculums in the country; and in 2021, became the Official Character Development Curriculum of the Texas High School Coaches Association.

As a member of the THSCA’s IDEA committee, Mackey is the author of the 4L’s Curriculum, a resource designed to equip Texas coaches to lead their athletes and programs through the most difficult issues of the day (www.thsca.com/4ls). 

Over the last five years, Mackey has spoken on stages and in locker rooms—from six man to six A— over 1400 times. He has an uncanny ability to connect with the heart of today’s student athlete. Through humor, timeless wisdom, and his infectious energy, Mackey equips students and coaches to go beyond the game in ways few others have. Drawing upon the lessons learned from coaches, championship teams, and the Six Pillars, Mackey helps teams build a Culture of Character.

Mackey’s first book, co-authored with Damon West, is called The Locker Room: How Great Teams Heal Hurts, Overcome Adversity, and Build Unity, and debuted on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers List in May of 2022.

Mackey is a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. from Texas A&M University and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mackey is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry, also at Fuller. Among his many accomplishments, Mackey is most proud of his role as a devoted husband to his wife, Teressa, and father to their four kids.