Sue Billington-Wade, founder of  , has spent her life in elementary, secondary and collegiate teaching and coaching, as well as experiential workshops.  After nine years in public schools, she supervised  secondary student teachers for eight years at Boise State University.  Her undergraduate degree and secondary administrative certificate are from College of Idaho, she holds an M.S. from Idaho State University, with advanced graduate work at Boise State University where she is an Affiliate Professor. She is a graduate of Fred Jones' Positive Classroom Management, Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process and is a certified self-esteem trainer.  She has worked with Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul co-author) at his international "Success Principles" workshops since 1997.

Sue was selected as "A Woman Making History in Idaho" by Boise State University and is listed in  the National Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.  For two years she was Teacher of the Year in the largest High School in Idaho. She received the coveted Robert F. Gibb Fellow Award-"Do Ones Best . . . and Then Some" from Boise Southwest Rotary.  Sue is a member of the Treasure Valley Alcohol Drug Coalition, Idaho Counseling Association, and National Association of School Administrators.

After nine years of reading thousands of essays, journal entries and reflection papers from our young people, I realized that I couldn't play like I didn't hear what they were saying. They spoke very clearly about their confusion and dreams. They saw the hypocrisy, negative social pressure, and abuse that permeated every aspect of our culture. They asked for answers, understanding, honesty and trust. I knew I couldn't ignore them. I wanted them to know, "you are heard, your voice matters, and you have what it takes to handle whatever is ahead." And so Walkin' The Talk began through the voices, messages and words of our young people themselves.

Our actions deliver a message much louder than our words, and that's the one our children are hearing and copying. "Accountable, responsible, autonomous (self-governing), kind, and of good character" are comments that we want to hear about our children. And if they were asked, what might our children whisper, "I want to be like that, too, can you teach me?" Without a word, we teach our children, society teaches our children, family, friends and un-friends teach our children. What might it take to hear beyond their words? In Walkin' The Talk we believe we hear their messages and that it is our responsibility as caring adults to: 

• guide without taking away their voices
• mentor trust and honesty in a sometimes dangerous society
• learn to listen so children will talk
• allow them to learn their lessons without paying a life-changing, high price
• find life's purpose as a joyful journey through self-awareness each day
• handle life's challenges/stresses by learning the lesson when the price is small... ignored lessons will only demand a higher price later...
• What if success means... I learned the lesson?

It can be easy and fun to connect with our young people. We don't have to allow society to dictate what the relationship with our teenagers/young ones is going to look like. The tools are available to all of us. Together it is life changing and worth it for every child in this generation and the generations to come. What if we all reached out AS we looked within for the quality of person we want to be? Our young people are following our lead... without a word.  Where are we taking them?

Sue Billington-Wade

Articles by Sue Billington-Wade :
                      (Requires Acrobat Reader)    

• Who's Responsible For Our Children's Self-esteem?   
• What Do Our Children Really Want?    
• What If We Give In To Social Pressure?

Our mission is…to inspire and encourage our young people and families to discover their own solutions to live with integrity, responsibility, and purpose.