Jonathan Mooney

Jonathan Mooney

Keynote Speaker: Dyslexic Writer & Learning Disabilities Advocate; Recipient of The Harry S. Truman Fellowship for Public Services

Jonathan Mooney Biography

Jonathan Mooney, a dyslexic writer, speaker, and advocate, has had his work featured in various prestigious media outlets, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, HBO, NPR, ABC News, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, NBC, and Fast Company. Despite the challenges he faced learning to read only at the age of 12, Mooney went on to graduate with honors in English Literature from Brown University.

A nationally recognized advocate for neurological and physical diversity, Mooney has been speaking across the nation about these topics for two decades. Sharing the stage with influential figures such as then-Vice President Joe Biden, he has inspired those who live with differences and advocated for necessary change. His commitment to public service has been recognized through awards like the Harry S. Truman Fellowship for Public Service and the LA Achievement Award from The Lab School of Washington.

Mooney is an accomplished author with several books to his credit. Remarkably, he wrote his first book at the age of 23 while still an undergraduate. His published works include "The Short Bus," "Learning Outside the Lines," and "Normal Sucks." His academic prowess was further highlighted when he became a finalist for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jonathan Mooney and other top speakers and celebrities.

Jonathan Mooney Speaking Topics

One of Those Kids

Jonathan Mooney was one of “those kids”: One of those Kids who couldn’t sit still and spent elementary school chilling out with the janitor in the hallway.

Couldn’t keep his mouth shut, so he spent middle school on a first name basis with Shirley, the receptionist in the principal’s office; And one of those kids who spent much of high school hiding in the bathroom to escape reading out loud with tears streaming down his face. Growing up he had ever label under the sun: The Bad kid, the dumb kid, the “at risk kid”, the special ED kid. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in fourth grade, dropped out of school for a time in sixth grade and had a plan for suicide when he was 12 years old. He had many low expectations that surrounded him. He was told he would be a high school drop out; he was told he would flip burgers for a living, and he was told that people like him usually end up incarcerated.

But he beat those odds, graduating from Brown University with an honors degree in English lit. How did he do it? That question is the heart of Jonathan's personal, humorous, and research based talk.

In this presentation, Jonathan explores three ideas that changed his life and that all educators can adopt to support vulnerable and at risk learners. He provides concrete strategies to support teachers in building a positive learning identity when many students like him self believe they are “stupid, crazy, and lazy”; he outlines a strengths based approached the gives teacher concrete idea on how to scale students strengths and build contextualized learning pathways; and he explores the power of student teachers connections and relationships as the foundation of transformative learning environments. And through all of this, Jonathan celebrates educators as change agents and education as a powerful tool for personal and social transformation.

The End of School & The Future of Learning

A biology lesson in a museum, surrounded by paintings. Classes on happiness instead of the quadratic equation. Getting an “A” for being the best student at handling failure.

In scattered pockets across the country, often unknown and unseen, a revolution is quietly brewing. Parents and educators are turning education on its head, radically re-conceiving both its purpose and its forms. A growing insurgent movement of parents, educators, thinkers, entrepreneurs and activists are dragging the education system kicking and screaming into the 21th century. And they’re supported by findings from the learning sciences, information technology, and a rapidly evolving understanding of human thriving, which are challenging every aspect of our antiquated education model, from its pedagogy to fiscal structures.

Jonathan Mooney's newest talk brings to life, and makes sense out of, the disruptive learning innovations that are rearing their heads everywhere. Classrooms are being “flipped” where teachers use technology to deliver content and invest their time in active learning; learning network co-ops are exploding; communities are being turned into classrooms; and college is being challenged as the sole gatekeeper to a successful adult life. Funny, real, and forward thinking, this presentations will inspire parents, teachers, not to reform schools but to re-imagine what education can be, to dare its potential, from the ground up.

School Sucks. After School Shouldn't.

Jonathan Mooney knows first hand the transformative power of after school programs.

During the school day, he was one of “those kids”. The kid chilling out with the janitor in the hall way or hiding in the bathroom to escape reading class. But in his after school programs, parks and rec robotics program, YMCA soccer league, school district run science programs, he was no longer the stupid, crazy, lazy kid but some one how could learn and be successful. In this personal, humorous, and researched based talk, Jonathan explores the foundational principles of transformative out of school time experiences that change kids lives.

Far from arguing that after school programs should “align” with the school day, Jonathan celebrates the unique pedagogy and values of the after school programs and raises the provocative challenge that the traditional school day should be more like the best after school programs.

Jonathan Mooney Videos

Jonathan Mooney - Carleton College
Jonathan Mooney - Pennsylvania Dept. of Education
Jonathan Mooney - Goalcast

How do I book Jonathan Mooney to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jonathan Mooney for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jonathan Mooney, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jonathan Mooney or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Jonathan Mooney for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Jonathan Mooney, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jonathan Mooney are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jonathan Mooney, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Jonathan Mooney speak about?

Jonathan Mooney is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Overcoming Adversity, Educational Motivational, Mental Health, Anti-Bullying, Technology, Author, Disability, Family & Parenting, Science, Education Reform, Education, Neurodiversity, Belonging, Motivational, Economy, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism, Business Consulting, DEI, Inspirational, Health & Wellness, LGBTQ, TED and Storytelling.

Where does Jonathan Mooney travel from?

Jonathan Mooney generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Jonathan Mooney?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jonathan Mooney for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jonathan Mooney for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jonathan Mooney or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Jonathan Mooney is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Overcoming Adversity and Educational Motivational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jonathan Mooney for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Jonathan Mooney generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ly Xīnzhèn M. Zhǎngsūn Brown, Temple Grandin and Tiffany Yu. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jonathan Mooney for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 29/01/2026.

Jonathan Mooney Speaking Topics

  • One of Those Kids

    Jonathan Mooney was one of “those kids”: One of those Kids who couldn’t sit still and spent elementary school chilling out with the janitor in the hallway.

    Couldn’t keep his mouth shut, so he spent middle school on a first name basis with Shirley, the receptionist in the principal’s office; And one of those kids who spent much of high school hiding in the bathroom to escape reading out loud with tears streaming down his face. Growing up he had ever label under the sun: The Bad kid, the dumb kid, the “at risk kid”, the special ED kid. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in fourth grade, dropped out of school for a time in sixth grade and had a plan for suicide when he was 12 years old. He had many low expectations that surrounded him. He was told he would be a high school drop out; he was told he would flip burgers for a living, and he was told that people like him usually end up incarcerated.

    But he beat those odds, graduating from Brown University with an honors degree in English lit. How did he do it? That question is the heart of Jonathan's personal, humorous, and research based talk.

    In this presentation, Jonathan explores three ideas that changed his life and that all educators can adopt to support vulnerable and at risk learners. He provides concrete strategies to support teachers in building a positive learning identity when many students like him self believe they are “stupid, crazy, and lazy”; he outlines a strengths based approached the gives teacher concrete idea on how to scale students strengths and build contextualized learning pathways; and he explores the power of student teachers connections and relationships as the foundation of transformative learning environments. And through all of this, Jonathan celebrates educators as change agents and education as a powerful tool for personal and social transformation.

  • The End of School & The Future of Learning

    A biology lesson in a museum, surrounded by paintings. Classes on happiness instead of the quadratic equation. Getting an “A” for being the best student at handling failure.

    In scattered pockets across the country, often unknown and unseen, a revolution is quietly brewing. Parents and educators are turning education on its head, radically re-conceiving both its purpose and its forms. A growing insurgent movement of parents, educators, thinkers, entrepreneurs and activists are dragging the education system kicking and screaming into the 21th century. And they’re supported by findings from the learning sciences, information technology, and a rapidly evolving understanding of human thriving, which are challenging every aspect of our antiquated education model, from its pedagogy to fiscal structures.

    Jonathan Mooney's newest talk brings to life, and makes sense out of, the disruptive learning innovations that are rearing their heads everywhere. Classrooms are being “flipped” where teachers use technology to deliver content and invest their time in active learning; learning network co-ops are exploding; communities are being turned into classrooms; and college is being challenged as the sole gatekeeper to a successful adult life. Funny, real, and forward thinking, this presentations will inspire parents, teachers, not to reform schools but to re-imagine what education can be, to dare its potential, from the ground up.

  • School Sucks. After School Shouldn't.

    Jonathan Mooney knows first hand the transformative power of after school programs.

    During the school day, he was one of “those kids”. The kid chilling out with the janitor in the hall way or hiding in the bathroom to escape reading class. But in his after school programs, parks and rec robotics program, YMCA soccer league, school district run science programs, he was no longer the stupid, crazy, lazy kid but some one how could learn and be successful. In this personal, humorous, and researched based talk, Jonathan explores the foundational principles of transformative out of school time experiences that change kids lives.

    Far from arguing that after school programs should “align” with the school day, Jonathan celebrates the unique pedagogy and values of the after school programs and raises the provocative challenge that the traditional school day should be more like the best after school programs.

Jonathan Mooney Videos

Jonathan Mooney - Carleton College
Jonathan Mooney - Pennsylvania Dept. of Education
Jonathan Mooney - Goalcast
Jonathan Mooney - TEDxOlympicBlvdWomen
Jonathan Mooney - TEDxYouth@SantaMonica
  • How do I book Jonathan Mooney to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jonathan Mooney for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jonathan Mooney, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jonathan Mooney or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Jonathan Mooney for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Jonathan Mooney, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jonathan Mooney are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jonathan Mooney, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Jonathan Mooney speak about?

  • Where does Jonathan Mooney travel from?

    Jonathan Mooney generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Jonathan Mooney?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jonathan Mooney for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jonathan Mooney for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jonathan Mooney or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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