"The greatest public servant in the country" - The Jefferson Award

Books

“Nobody Don’t Love Nobody: Lessons on Love from the School With No Name”

By Stacey Bess

Nobody Don't Love Nobody

The Lessons learned in Nobody Don’t Love Nobody extend far beyond homelessness. They are lessons on how to love, in giving and receiving, in the power love has to heal and to help. They are also lessons in how keeping silent or acting unkindly can affect a human being and how the damage done to one person can sometimes be passed on to the next generations. The stories that Mrs. Bess shares are stories of children who have loved her, taught her new depths of pain and compassion, and shown her how vital it is for each of us to take care of our own–to love those around us in our families and communities enough to make a small difference in their lives.

Stacey Bess has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah. She began to record the stories of some of her students at The School With No Name not because she intended to publish a book, but because the stories are so profound. Her outstanding service has been recognized with a number of honors, including the national Jefferson Award, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Educators Award.
















“Planting More Than Pansies: A Fable about Love”

Written by Stacey Bess
Illustrated by Melissa Ricks

Planting More Than Pansies

Planting More Than Pansies is a resonant story of love, repentance, and rebirth. Based on true experiences, this moving account reminds us that when parents plant well, their children can weather the severe storms of life and return to a safe harbor even if they stray for a season.

Planting More Than Pansies offers hope that children will return to their teachings, and reminds them of the magic of faith as it leads them there.

Book Stacey

"It was a pleasure for our campus to host the Midwest premier of Beyond the Blackboard. It was an inspirational movie and our community and campus audience were treated to a great evening. Beyond that, Stacey appeared in several campus venues with students and faculty. She is an effective communicator of the values and techniques of great teaching. She has been where the toughest educators labor, and did it with skill and passion. Southern Nazarene University would welcome her again as she shared values of genuine care and concern for students that we try to teach. I highly recommend her to any audience who wants to understand the challenges of education today, and who wants to hear from a person who knows how to get it done, even in the most difficult circumstances." -Southern Nazarene University

"I cannot tell you how pleased the United Way staff, board of directors and our community is with the message that Stacey delivered on Friday. She really hit a home run. She had our audience completely engaged through all 30 minutes. It was quite an event and one I think people will remember for years to come." -United Way of Dutchess County

"The event went very well! Stacey is that rare combination – a consummate professional with a great big heart. As a public speaker myself I admire the careful crafting of her talk, yet at the event it sounded as fresh as if she were telling it for the first time to a group of friends. More than a few listeners had tears in their eyes." -Client

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