
The Science of GRiT: Building Resilient, Future-Ready Students in Rural Schools
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Rural schools face unique challenges—limited mental health resources, shifting workforce demands, and the growing need for student resilience. The Science of GRiT leverages neuroscience, relational intelligence, and habit formation to equip students with the mindset and skills to thrive in school, work, and life. Learn how brain science impacts learning, emotional regulation, and leadership development - and how GRiT provides rural educators with practical tools to foster resilience, self-awareness, and high-performing teams. Walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen student success and build a future-ready community.
PRESENTER: Kurt Wismer
Kurt Wismer is a trailblazer in education, serving as the Director of Curriculum Development and Deployment at Rewired Dynamics, where he leads the development of the GRiT curriculum—an innovative program focused on relational intelligence. He is also an educator at the School District of North Fond du Lac, teaching Entrepreneurship, Management, and Relational Intelligence, where he empowers students to develop the skills needed for leadership and real-world success.
An entrepreneur who broke free from the confines of traditional teaching, Kurt found his true calling in helping young people navigate business, leadership, and innovation. As a master trainer for INCubatorEdu, he inspires high school and college students to transform ideas into viable businesses, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset that transcends the classroom.
Kurt’s expertise spans business and marketing education, educational technology, and entrepreneurship, all with a focus on disrupting the status quo and igniting creativity. With over 20 years of experience in education and business, he also serves as a passionate leader at a summer youth camp, where he instills leadership and resilience in the next generation.
A connector, creative, and nurturer at heart, Kurt thrives on collaboration, bringing people together to foster vibrant and transformative learning experiences. Alongside his wife—also an educator—he remains steadfast in challenging norms and creating pathways for real-world success. When he’s not redefining education, you can find him at rock concerts, enjoying hammock time in the summer with ice cream in hand, and soaking in the joys of life—just one cat shy of being officially crazy cat people.