“Know Your Why”: Mark Perna Sparks Purpose Across Generations at GCSSA In-Service
Educators and students gathered at the ESC of Northeast Ohio for an inspiring day with bestselling author and generational expert Mark Perna, exploring purpose, motivation, and the power of building a competitive advantage.
On Friday, October 3, 2025, the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio buzzed with energy as over 60 educators gathered for the GCSSA In-Service session, “Generational Differences: Know Your Why.” Held in partnership with the ESC, the event featured national speaker and bestselling author Mark Perna, who inspired attendees to rethink how they engage and motivate today’s younger generations.
A Morning of Energy and Insight
The day began with light breakfast and upbeat music that set a positive tone. By 9:30 am, the room was full of excitement and purpose.
Perna delivered a dynamic keynote focused on revisioning the path to success, especially for those 30 and under, a generation rethinking education and career choices. Citing a Wall Street Journal statistic that two-thirds of high school students see little value in college, he urged educators to emphasize building a competitive advantage through:
- Academic Knowledge
- Technical Competencies
- Professional Life Skills
“When combined,” Perna explained, “these create relevance...the key to motivation and success.” He reminded attendees: “If the want to is strong enough, the how to will come.”
Inspiring Students to Find Their “Why”
Perna encouraged educators to guide students with two simple, powerful questions:
- “What do you love to do?”
- “What do you do well?”
Helping students connect passion with purpose, he said, compels them to see real value in learning and future planning.
He closed with a memorable story from childhood, when a broken tree branch forced him to problem-solve and act fast, showing how discomfort can drive growth. Perna left attendees with a line from Apollo 13: “It wasn’t a miracle, we just decided to go.”
Afternoon Session with GEAR UP Students
In the afternoon, Perna met with 8th-grade students from the ESC’s GEAR UP cohort, demonstrating how to define and develop a competitive advantage. Through hands-on examples and conversation, he helped students recognize their strengths and see how purpose connects to opportunity.
The Takeaway
Educators left renewed and motivated to help students discover their why, while students walked away inspired to build theirs. As one theme echoed throughout the day: success isn’t a miracle; it’s a decision fueled by purpose and action.
Looking Ahead: Follow-Up Session with Perna in Lorain County on Feb. 3
Building on the success of the October in-service, GCSSA and the Lorain County ESC will host follow-up sessions of “Generational Differences: Know Your Why” on February 3, 2026. The event will continue the conversation on purpose, motivation, and bridging generational gaps, while encouraging earlier attendees to involve their Business Advisory Councils (BACs) in the afternoon session to extend the dialogue with community and workforce partners.
-
8:30 am-Noon
District and Building-Level Administration: Designed for superintendents, principals, assistant principals, directors, and other leaders.
-
1-3 pm:
Community and Workforce Partners: Designed for employers, chambers, workforce and education boards, and civic leaders.
🖊️ To register, e-mail Teri Hedrick at thedrick@osconline.org.
| 
