About Stacey

Stacey Bess is an award-winning educator with great insight into the hearts of children in need. She believes that the way to most effectively teach children any subject is to treat them with love and kindness. Audiences around the nation have discovered the treasure of Stacey Bess and the magic she works with children.

Bess began her teaching career at The School With No Name located inside the Salt Lake City shelter where she taught math, reading, and self worth to homeless and transient children.

By the end of her first term she was discouraged and often distraught by the circumstances facing the children who were so easy to love, but whose lives were so insecure. Often she wanted to give up, but decided the children deserved her best efforts.

While working at The School With No Name, Bess chronicled the heart-wrenching stories of her students so she would never forget how far these children had come. After reviewing the stories, she discovered profound life-lessons and eventually published a book, Nobody Don’t Love Nobody.

After Bess published her first book and gained the support of the Utah community, people began to notice Bess and her unusual success with “hopeless” children. She has won prestigious local and national awards. A highlight came when she was honored with the esteemed National Jefferson Award, along with First Lady Barbara Bush, Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackman and Ambassador Walter Annenberg.

A dynamic keynote speaker, Stacey Bess engages groups large and small, sharing the lessons she learned that changed her life as she taught hundreds of homeless children. Her story continues to change lives as her audiences are inspired to become involved in their communities.

Bess and her husband Greg have been married 45 years and have six children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah. She continues to be a leading advocate in the nation for the educational rights of impoverished children.

Distinguished Awards

• National Jefferson Award, Greatest Public Service By Someone 35 Years or Younger
  The Jefferson Award winner represents the best of what America has to offer in the fields of Public and Community service. Stacey was presented with this award for her dedication to teaching children.
  (Other Jefferson Award recipients that year were first lady Barbara Bush, Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackman, and Ambassador Walter Annenberg)
• Dedication To Homeless Youth, Golden Deeds Award
• Delta Kappa Gamma Educator’s Award
• Rescuer of Humanity, Project Love
  (Other award recipients included Jimmy Carter)
• Distinguished Woman of the Year, American Association of University Women

Other Awards

Outstanding Service To Children, Utah Children’s Award, Creative Community Leadership Award, University of Utah Unsung Heroine Award, Ladies’ Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars, Modern Pioneer Award, Geneva Steel Community Hero, Children’s Miracle Network, Huntsman Awards for Excellence nominee

Stacey in the Media

Stacey has made numerous TV appearances and has been the subject of articles in local and national publications. A few of those are listed below.

TV Appearances

• Good Morning, Texas, Channel WFAA
• The Phil Donahue Show
• Dan Rather, CBS evening News

Magazine Articles

• “People” Magazine
• “Salt Lake City Magazine”
• “Continuum” University of Utah Magazine
• “NEA Magazine”

Newspaper Articles

• Boston, MA (National), Christian Science Monitor –
       “A Superstar Helps A ‘Bad Boy’ Shine”
• Wasatch Parent (Regional), –
       “Teacher Gives Loving Identity to School With No Name”
• (Regional) Intermountain Catholic –
       “School With No Name Teacher Tells Students Stories In Book”
• Salt Lake City, UT, Deseret News –
       “Teacher Gives Hugs, Hope to Homeless”
       “Homeless, But Not School-Less”
       “4 Good Months Were A Big Deal to 3 Youngsters”
• Salt Lake City, UT, The Salt Lake Tribune –
       “S.L. Teacher of Homeless To Receive Jefferson Award”
       “Homeless Children teach the Teacher Lessons of Love”
       “Teacher Leaves a Lasting Mark On S.L. ‘School With No Name’”
• Park City, UT, The Park Record –
       “Utah Woman Writes Moving Book on Love”
• Ogden, UT, Standard Examiner –
       “Speaker To Focus On Kids”
       “Teacher For Homeless Children Found Job Wrenching, Crucial”
• San Francisco, CA, San Francisco Examiner –
       “On the Front Lines – SLC School with No Name”
• Northern UT, Davis County Clipper –
       “School With No Name Visits Boulton”
• Seattle, WA, South County Journal –
       “Child’s Prize is Lesson In Love”