Michael Hannum

“Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children.” –Sitting Bull

Michael is a teacher. He has always been zealous about the questions of life and the journey toward the answer, and his greatest ambition is helping others on the journey as well. Always driven by an innate conviction that every person has potential awaiting discovery and coaching toward excellence, public education posed a perfect fit. His two decades in education formed his belief in strength-based autonomy untied for a common goal. In addition, his experience as a poet and artist has perpetuated his certainty in the power of imagination. His passion for drawing the best out of kids and adults through the power of creativity has defined his “out-of-the-box” leadership style and personal mission as a life-long learner.

Michael’s signature themes—Input, Strategic, Intellection, Connectedness and Learner—makes sense in light of his love for knowledge, but he was most intrigued by Connectedness. Prior to his exposure to Clifton Strengths®, he credited his birth in a hippie commune to his innate belief in the power of unity with respect for individual talents, or gifts. It is this theme he feels best motivates his love for people and his desire to know them well. As a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach®, he strives to motivate others to utilize their talents toward being empowered, autonomous beings endeavoring to be a positive force for the whole at home, work, community and globally.

Michael is the principal of the newly recognized Leader in Me® campus of Rockport-Fulton Middle School. Having worked with children and families in some capacity for over thirty years, he takes pride in his place in the arena of middle school; where “imagination still reigns.” He is energized by the uniqueness of each day and humbled by all he learns from pre-adolescents untarnished by the accepted miseries of adulthood. As such, he aspires to coach everyone toward embracing their potential.

Michael earned a BA in English from Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi and an MA in English from National University. He lives in Rockport, TX—most recently known for being in the eye of the storm Hurricane Harvey—with his wife and two daughters.