Press Release, La Porte Community School Corporation:
La Porte—Students at La Porte Community School Corporation’s elementary schools experienced something special this week—an energetic blend of hip-hop music, dancing, and
life-changing lessons about perseverance, delivered by nationally recognized motivational speaker and artist C.J. Luckey.
Over two days, all seven LPCSC elementary schools participated in the C.A.P.S. (Celebrating All Persevering Students) assembly at the Educational Services Center. Luckey, who founded the Texas-based nonprofit in 2017, has now impacted over 100,000 elementary students and educators nationwide with his unique approach to teaching growth mindset concepts through music.
The journey to bring C.J. Luckey to La Porte began over a year ago with Katie Talbert, a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) teacher at Crichfield Elementary. Talbert regularly incorporates Luckey’s videos and songs into her PLTW lessons and recognized the profound impact his message could have on students in person.
“My students respond so positively to C.J. Luckey’s music and message in the classroom that I knew we had to find a way to bring him here in person,” said Talbert. “Watching our students experience that energy and encouragement live was even more powerful than I imagined. This assembly will inspire them to embrace challenges and believe in themselves long after today.”
Luckey’s work is grounded in Dr. Carol Dweck’s research on the growth mindset from Stanford University, which focuses on changing the way students think about struggle, failure, and their ability to persevere under challenging circumstances. One of his signature songs, “The Power of Yet,” encourages kids not to give up by embracing the idea that just because they can’t do something now doesn’t mean they never will—they just can’t do it yet.
Talbert approached her principal, Tearsa Schable, to explore the possibility of bringing Luckey to La Porte. Though funding wasn’t immediately available, Schable and Talbert didn’t give up—embodying the very perseverance that Luckey teaches. Dr. Ben Tonagel, Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning, eventually secured grant funding and, together with
LPCSC Social Worker Anna Williams, made the assembly a reality.
For the students of La Porte, the assembly was more than just entertainment—it was a celebration of their potential and a reminder that with perseverance and the right mindset, they have the power to overcome any challenge. Thanks to the determination of educators like Katie Talbert and administrators who found a way to make it happen, this message of hope and resilience will echo through LPCSC classrooms long after the music fades.