Liesl McConchie, MA
Brain-Based Learning
04:45
Audiences Include:
Adult, Educator PD Speakers, Educators & Staff Speakers, Support Staff Speakers, Youth Services Speakers
Topics Include:
Conference Keynote Speakers, Done-for-You Events, Pragmatic Speakers, Professional Learning Sessions, Staff Training Speakers, Student Engagement, Workshop Facilitators
Typical Fee: $10K-$12K
- Expert in Cognitive Neuroscience and Brain-Based Teaching
- Veteran Educator Who Makes Brain Science Accessible & Practical
- Co-Author of the Bestselling Book, Brain-Based Learning
Liesl McConchie is a recognized expert in brain-based learning, mathematics education, and instructional strategies that improve student achievement.
With over 25 years of experience, she has partnered with more than 300 schools to bridge the gap between neuroscience and practical teaching methods.
Areas of Expertise:
• Brain-Based Learning – Helping educators connect the why (“Your student’s brain works better this way”) with the what and how (research-based strategies for engagement and retention).
• Mathematics Education – Equipping math teachers with science-backed strategies to boost student proficiency and confidence.
• Supporting Diverse Learners – Empowering educators with techniques to quickly and effectively adapt instruction to meet the needs of all students.
Teaching Background & Impact:
A former K-12 math teacher, McConchie has spent decades training school leaders, instructional coaches, and educators. Whether leading professional development, speaking at conferences, or providing high-level classroom coaching, her approach leaves educators equipped and inspired to improve student learning.
McConchie also brings an international perspective to education, having spent over three years in Denmark studying and working within the Scandinavian school system. She played a pivotal role in founding a school based on innovative pedagogical principles that continue to attract visits from dignitaries and education leaders.
McConchie is the co-author of the bestselling book Brain-Based Learning and author of Building a Positive Math Identity: A Brain Science Approach. Through her writing, she translates the latest research into actionable strategies, helping educators foster better engagement and enhance learning outcomes.
McConchie’s professional development sessions are highly engaging, interactive, and evidence-based, designed to meet the specific needs of each audience. She doesn’t just teach best practices—she models them, ensuring educators experience firsthand what effective, brain-based teaching looks and feels like.
Speaking Topics
Liesl will customize any presentation to align with your event goals.
Many teaching methods unintentionally work against how students naturally learn. But when educators align their instruction with the brain’s inherent systems, learning becomes more engaging and longer-lasting. This dynamic session goes beyond old “brain-friendly” trends, bringing the latest research in cognitive neuroscience into real-world classrooms. Discover practical, student-centered strategies that help learners stay motivated, absorb new concepts more effectively, and retain what they learn, long after the lesson ends.
Liesl McConchie translates cutting-edge neuroscience into practical, easy-to-implement strategies that help educators create deeper connections, boost retention, and maximize learning outcomes.
Learning Outcomes:
Liesl will customize her message to align with your specific goals.
- Understand how to apply lessons from cognitive neuroscience to solve daily classroom challenges.
- Learn actionable techniques to enhance student engagement, learning, and retention.
- Discover how to structure lessons in ways that align with the brain’s natural learning process.
- Identify common teaching practices that may inadvertently hinder learning and how to replace them with more effective strategies.
- Walk away with tools to create a brain-friendly learning environment that improves student success.
Liesl McConchie is a rare trifecta in professional development. She brings the top-notch presentation tools of high engagement, enthusiasm, and connectivity with quality research and real-world experience that ensures your staff succeeds!
Jensen Learning • Educators & Instructional Coaches
We claim ALL students can learn, but the data is painting a very different, and devastating, picture. Recent discoveries in brain research reveal hidden needs for students to access the learning being offered to them. Yes, lesson plans matter. Yes, motivation matters. And, before we start planning our lessons and designing motivation systems, our students have specific neurobiological needs that must be met for learning to happen in our classrooms.
Liesl McConchie will transform your staff as they learn what students truly need for their brains to be at their best. This highly relevant and engaging session will create a foundation on which all students can learn.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the different types of relationships that can exist between teacher and student, and which one sets students up for maximum learning and success.
- Discover the neurological impacts of students feeling a sense of belonging, and how high teacher expectations are the leading source of student belonging.
- Identify the different forms of safety that a student must feel in order for the brain to be able to learn.
- Uncover the biggest barrier to student effort and engagement, with tools to get all students to show up, give effort, and learn.
- Walk away with a renewed sense of what matters most for our students – the main character of our teaching journey.
Liesl McConchie is a rare trifecta in professional development. She brings the top-notch presentation tools of high engagement, enthusiasm, and connectivity with quality research and real-world experience that ensures your staff succeeds!
Jensen Learning • Educators & Instructional Coaches
Student disengagement is a growing challenge in classrooms everywhere. Traditional approaches to motivation often fail because they don’t align with what drives the motivational systems in the brain.
In this insightful session, Liesl McConchie demystifies student motivation by revealing the neurological and psychological factors that skyrocket (or plummet) student motivation. Educators will walk away with proven, science-backed strategies to inspire even the most disengaged learners to show up, give effort, and learn at deep levels.
Learning Outcomes:
Liesl will customize her message to align with your specific goals.
- Unpack the neuroscience behind motivation and how to leverage it for better student engagement.
- Identify key pitfalls to commonly used strategies to motivate students, and why they aren’t working.
- Learn practical strategies to spark curiosity, sustain attention, and foster intrinsic motivation.
- Discover the role of emotions in learning and how to create a classroom that nurtures positive engagement.
- Implement research-backed techniques that make learning more rewarding and meaningful for students.
Liesl McConchie is a world-class trainer and among the best I have ever worked with. She has the unique blend of being very strong in both her theory and her delivery. It’s a guarantee that Liesl always delivers top-quality training that involves the participant’s minds, emotions, and bodies.
True North School • Educators & Instructional Coaches
For many students, math is intimidating—leading to anxiety, disengagement, and self-doubt. But what if math class could be a place where every student feels confident and capable? This transformative session helps educators rethink how they teach math by focusing on identity, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
Liesl McConchie provides research-backed methods to help students develop strong math skills while fostering a positive self-concept as capable mathematicians.
Learning Outcomes:
Liesl will customize her message to align with your specific goals.
- Understand the connection between a student’s emotional relationship with math and their academic achievement.
- Learn strategies to reduce math anxiety and create a more inclusive, confidence-boosting math classroom.
- Discover how students form their math identity and how it affects their motivation and achievement.
- Implement engaging, simple strategies to support all students to develop a healthy and positive math identity.
- Cultivate a classroom culture where all students see themselves as capable mathematicians.
Liesl McConchie provides the direct opposite of a “sit-and-get” presentation. Our whole faculty was engaged, responsive, comfortable, energetic, and inspired by the tools and techniques presented in our 7-hour presentation!
Academy at Nola Dunn • Educators & Instructional Coaches
Every school has its unique challenges when it comes to effective teaching and student learning. This fully customized professional development session ensures your educators receive targeted, high-impact training designed to meet their specific needs and your school’s specific goals.
Whether your team is looking to boost student engagement, enhance instructional strategies, or strengthen long-term learning outcomes, Liesl will design a research-backed session tailored to your distinct goals. With a focus on practical application, this session equips teachers with tools they can immediately implement to create more meaningful, lasting learning experiences.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain personalized strategies to address your school’s specific math instruction challenges.
- Learn how to align math instruction with cognitive science for deeper understanding and retention.
- Explore differentiated approaches to reach students at all skill levels.
- Discover what a truly student-centered and brain-friendly classroom would be like.
- Walk away with practical tools and action steps to improve math learning outcomes immediately.
Liesl McConchie bases her teacher training on a deep understanding of the underlying, research-based principles of really good teaching. Teachers in her course will learn principles, and they will at the same time experience hands-on an extended catalog of strategies, ready to implement directly into their own classrooms – tightly related to and aiming to achieve those overarching principles.
True North Efterskole • Educators & Instructional Coaches
Decision-Maker Reviews
What other clients say about booking Liesl.
4.98
307 bookings
Liesl is an expert on integrating brain research, and she brings such high energy. Attendees always leave saying, "Oh, I learned something I can use immediately in my classroom," and that's such an important thing.
Various • Educators & Staff
Liesl is a rare trifecta in professional development. She brings the top-notch presentation tools of high engagement, enthusiasm, and connectivity with quality research and real-world experience that ensures your staff succeeds!
Jensen Learning • Educators
Liesl delivers practical strategies, rooted in research, to maximize student learning. Her workshops are relatable, realistic, and provide ideas to implement right away with little effort, prep, or money/resources. Highly recommend her PD.
Burleson Collegiate High School • Educators
Liesl McConchie provides the direct opposite of a ‘sit-and-get’ presentation. Our whole faculty was engaged, responsive, comfortable, energetic, and inspired by the tools and techniques presented.
Academy at Nola Dunn • Educators
Audience-Member Reviews
Real feedback from teachers and staff. See how Liesl leaves a lasting impact—shifting mindsets, sparking change, and moving audiences to action.
download_for_offline Audience Reviews (PDF)
Upcoming Events
Preview or book Liesl while she’s in your area
Event Materials
Everything You Need to Host Liesl
Books by Liesl McConchie, MA
Expand the impact of Liesl’s message
Brain-Based Learning
Teaching the Way Students Really Learn
Building a Positive Math Identity
A Brain-Science Approach
Book Liesl for your event
Book Liesl McConchie, MA for your event
- Represented by TYS — Trusted by 5,900+ Organizations
- Customized Presentation Tailored to Your Audience and Event Goals
- Flat-Rate Pricing — No Surprise Travel Costs
lock No commitment. We'll contact you within 1 business day.