Complaint Review: Jeff Yalden

 Jeff Yalden attempted to SCAM our heartbroken community after a teen suicide. I am so glad that our school did some research about him and CANCELLED his appearance. Apparently there is even substantial information about Jeff Yalden and allegations of child abuse from a previous marriage. I must urge any school or organizations remotely considering hiring Mr. Yalden to do your research.

He seems to take advantage of grieving and vulnerable communities for his own profit like a vulture. Furthermore he has absolutely NO psychological training or certification. Mr. Jeff Yalden does not act/speak as a professionally trained, educated, person about mental health, about healthy ways to communicate, about how to get along and how to set examples on helping others that maybe in need.

 To the many parents, administrators, teachers, counselors, etc. I’m quite disturbed to read this. Our school for weeks had to put out fires from angry parents and community members they say. I have never heard anything like this. I think if something like this ever was the case I’d probably have known. Listen, first of all, “I AM DEEPLY SORRY!” As an educator for 25 years, I’ve worked with thousands of schools and school communities. It is NEVER my intention to be innapropriate or offend anyone. The last thing I’d ever want to do is leave a school community having to pick up pieces after I leave. I’m not your rainbow, unicorn, Mickey Mouse Speaker, but I am far from racist or vulgar. I am real. I am passionate and an emotional speaker. Every child I speak to I am present and engaged and I treat every child as if they were my own careful to u deretand and be responsible sible knowing how impressionable they are at such a young age. I’ve worked in schools for many years. I’ve coached on sidelines and in gymnasiums. I pride myself on knowing teens and their emotional well being and meeting them where they’re at. Every school community I always ask about the theme, their objectives, and I am very transparent in telling them I am their guest. Obviously, this saddens me. Again, I’m sorry. It is the internet and in today’s world we all have the power to be heard.

I’ll say this. 25 years. Thousands of programs. Thousands of references and letters. A couple of complaints. One by a very disturbed guidance counselor that I am taking legal action on, and another one here saying her school was scammed. I’ve literally saved lives as a youth mental Health Speaker. I’ve worked with hundreds of counselors and law enforcement, administrators and superintendents who’ve had loss in their community. The Canadian Mental Health Association invites me after a community experienced a Suicide Contagion. I’ve spoken in every state, every province in Canada, and 48 wonderful countries. I’m a two-time Marine of the Year and a Gulf War Veteran. I come from a military family. My mom and dad are still married. My dad is Secret Service, FBI, air Traffic Control and an Army Officer chief Warrant Officer 5. My grandfather was a retired Captain. My brother is a Secret Service Agent now does security and computer security in Germany for the Army. If there are two bad things written I’ll take the percentages. I’d like to be perfect, but that’s impossible. I’m Proud of my work. The grind. The millions of lives I’ve been able to share my heart with. I think “the weeks of angry parents, emails, and phone calls”, is quite exaggerated. However, I want to respect this former client either way and say I’m sorry and wish it wasn’t even one. Again, I always think if everyone likes you what differencedo you make. I am me. I am real. I do speak from my heart. I’m an educator.

Bottom line... I welcome your phone call any time. I welcome you. Ring transparent and asking me about this or my message. I’m a guest in your building and community and I promise to always do my best and be age appropriate. Thank you for allowing me to have a say.

 Our school hired Jeff Yalden based simply on his website which positions him as an excellent speaker. Boy were we duped. He created nothing but headaches for our entire administration. Weeks of angry phone calls and emails from understandably concerned parents about Mr. Yalden's language, racially charged jokes, and overall demeanor. I would urge any administrator considering hiring Mr. Yalden to proceed cautiously and do your research.

 I've spent 25 years working in education as a Youth Speaker on teen Mental Health and Suicide Prevention / suicide crisis intervention. I've traveled 50 states and 48 countries working with teens and communities, educators and mental health professionals. I'm also an Amazon #1 bestselling author with my book BOOM. I have an outstanding reputation that I am proud of. I did do wrong in this one particular conference and I went on social media and sincerely apologized in which I called Navy uniforms "f*g*y white uniforms" compared to the Marine Corps. From thee very moment I said it I was in full regret. I am a former Marine, two-time Marine of the Year recipient and Gulf War veteran. I apologized. I was wrong. This Amy Klug has viciously attacked me since that standing ovation Key Club Conference. I apologized to her as well. I've had to call her school administration because of her attacks on social media. Speaking of "Loose Cannon", I don't think she should be in counseling counseling our youth with how she is on social media. In short, my website says, "I'm real!" I do use some choice words - Sh*t, freaking, etc. I'm a PG-13 speaker. I have a responsibility to reach a full spectrum of my audience and I take great pride in my work. Why am I the only youth Speaker 25 years later and still America's #1 Teen Motivational Speaker? Because my work speaks for itself. My heart and passion is undeniable and my energy for our educational system and our youth is inexhaustible. So, I'm sorry this one person is really trying to attack me hard four months later. I will now call her administrators again and file my defamation lawsuit against her.

Sincerely, Jeff Yalden   www.JeffYalden.com