Ernesto Mejia

“I am my parent’s American dream!”

Speaker & Parental Engagement Expert

Ernesto Mejia, the proud son of Mexican immigrants, embodies the American dream with his unwavering commitment to empowering families, students, and educators across the country.

After overcoming the challenges of Guillain-Barré Syndrome at 16, which temporarily left him paralyzed, Ernesto defied the odds as a first-generation college student, earning a Master’s degree and rising to the role of College Dean of Students.

Ernesto’s deep-rooted belief in the power of education and communication has allowed him to travel across the country as a bilingual speaker and facilitator delivering engaging and impactful learning experiences to thousands of students, families, and educators.

His journey of resilience and perseverance fuels his work as a co-founder of CoolSpeak, where family engagement and student success are at the core of his mission, emphasizing the keys to achieving the American dream.

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Topics

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Topics

Ernesto speaks on a variety of topics, in English or Spanish, including but not limited to:

Family Engagement & Communication
First-Generation Student Empowerment & Readiness
Professional Development for Engagement & Culture
Migrant education, ELL & Bilingual Education
Team Building & Student Leadership
Resilience & Overcoming Adversity

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9.6 out of 10 Audience Rating

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Testimonials

“Ernesto does a masterful job of connecting with his audience at a personal level. He inspires and empowers the parents and families of students by building their capacity to become better advocates for their children.”

Matthew Chávez Education Specialist for Texas Parent & Family Engagement Statewide

“Ernesto is absolutely amazing with our GEAR UP families. He fosters strong connections with parents by sharing empowering life tips, guiding them in supporting their students’ emotional and academic growth, and sparking confidence to dream big. He’s a true motivator, inspiring and preparing families to tackle challenges head-on and pursue success with unstoppable determination.”

Cristina Castillo Assistant Director, UTRGV GEAR UP

“Ernesto is an extraordinary facilitator—his ability to deliver powerful messages in a way that is both relatable and deeply motivating is unparalleled. His personal story of triumph is nothing short of remarkable, and the way he seamlessly weaves students’ own experiences into his message creates an atmosphere of empowerment and belonging.”

Donyea T. Collins EOF Director at Raritan Valley Community College

“My experience with Ernesto was definitely one of a kind. I love that he truly got to connect with the students at our school and helped lift them up in ways I have never seen before. I felt so inspired and blessed to have him and CoolSpeak as our speakers!”

Evany Garcia Student, El Paso

“Both students and teachers were moved by your presentations because you touched their hearts. Most importantly, many teachers felt a change in energy (positive) as soon as they walked into the auditorium.”

Gabriella Maldonado, Ed. S. Assistant Principal, Abraham Lincoln High School

“Ernesto, I wish I could tell you more about how influential your speech was to me. Keep doing what you do, it’s truly amazing.”

Valeria Solorzano Student

“Ernesto inspired me to give my best and be my best to make a better me but to make my parents proud.”

Joselyn Flores Student

“I definitely enjoyed the presentation from Ernesto! It gave me a different perspective on what I can use to push me as a person not only in my education but overall in my life. He was an awesome speaker.”

Student Truckee Meadows Community College

“I absolutely loved his presentation because it hit home. He’s the type of guy that he can really connect with you because of what he’s been through it, and I like the way he includes his audience. Overall I would recommend him to anybody because he can really motivate anybody.”

Staff Truckee Meadows Community College