Biography

An Ordinary Woman Who Became Extraordinary

Globally Recognized Speaker, Life and Leadership Coach, Leader in Diversity, Inclusion, Equality, Psychological Safety for Corporations, Organizations, School Districts, Universities and Security Initiatives – CEO/Founder of Kids on the Move for Success.

Antoinette Tuff is passionate about keeping the workplace and schools psychologically safe environments by using her "Tuff Tactics" Techniques.  As the result of Antoinette being held hostage in a diverse and inclusive environment with a gunman, she is committed to restoring, revitalizing and reconnecting corporations with their leadership teams and employees, by bringing them back to the heart of the corporation where everyone can feel appreciated and valued.

On August 19, 2013, Antoinette Tuff was a school bookkeeper, severely depressed because her husband of 33 years had recently left. She, now, as a single mom, was faced with the daunting challenges of raising a son with multiple disabilities and a daughter in law school.


Antoinette receiving a WellsFargo Grant for her nonproift organization.


BRING ANTOINETTE TO YOUR EVENT

Never did she think that she would become a hero saving more than 1,000 lives, a best-selling author, an international celebrity, an expert on community safety, the Founder and CEO of a non-profit, Kids on the Move for Success or a guest of Michelle Obama at the State of the Union Address.

The next day, her life changed forever. Antoinette, an accidental hostage negotiator, used her experiences with challenging life issues to successfully convince an armed gunman, who entered the Ronal E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy, to give her his AK-47.  This is the only school active shooter situation in the US that ended without death or injury to students, faculty, parents or shooter himself.  Experience hostage negotiators, law enforcement and community leaders praised her intuitive, yet textbook, hostage negotiations on August 20, 2013.

As a speaker, Antoinette shares how her everyday crisis management techniques using Tuff Tactics apply to a wide variety situations, both large and small. Attendees in her audiences members will learn how stressful incidents in their everyday life can be leveraged as an asset when dealing with difficult interpersonal relationships, heated customer interactions or if they find a gun pointed in their direction. Her crisis management presentation with Conversation in the Crosshairs is designed to complement structured crisis situations and relationship training utilized by security, human resource and legal teams.

Seven-time Grammy® Award winner, Toni Braxton, stars as Antoinette Tuff, in “Faith Under Fire” for Lifetime TV.  “Faith Under Fire” premiered on Saturday, January 27, 2018.  “Faith Under Fire” was produced by Sony Pictures Television and based on the book “PREPARED for a PURPOSE: An Inspiring True Story of Faith, Courage and Compassion in Crisis” by Antoinette Tuff and Alex Tresniowski, Executive Producers are T. D. Jakes (Heaven is for Real), Judith Verno (Producer and Actress), Derrick Williams (Miracles from Heaven), Toni Braxton and Craig Baumgarten (Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart). Emmy nominee Vondie Curtis Hall (Abducted: The Carlina White Story) directs from a script written by Laura Harrington and Stephen Kay.  Also, her real-life story was documented by the Biography Channel, and was also shown on Lifetime TV.

After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, Antoinette Tuff became a recognized expert and community leader for student safety. Antoinette believes that compassion, confidence and control are the best options when dealing with student safety, which includes the prevention of bullying, suicide and deescalating an active shooter situation. She is frequently asked to participate in the conversations in the media and on Town Hall panels, including:

  • National Association for EHS&S Management – October 19, 2022
  • Black Mental Health Symposium – September 9, 2022
  • The Academy Charter School – August 30, 2022
  • The International Center for Leadership in Education – June 28, 2022
  • HRBoost LLC, Panel Discussion: Where Do We Begin Enabling Active Diversity in the Workplace? – August 21, 2020
  • WGCL-TV CBS46 – Arming Teacher Panelist – February 2019
  • DeKalb Community Safety Town Hall – March 17, 2018
  • March for Our Lives Speaker – March 24, 2018
  • March for Our Lives – Town Hall – April 7, 2018
  • GPB – On Second Thought – Arming Teacher Interview – April 13, 2018
  • Georgia Students for Change – Rally and Town Hall – April 20, 2018
  • National Die In Rally – US Capitol, Washington, DC – June 12, 2018

Antoinette has the following program in the organization:

  • Women on the Move for Success was launched to collaborate, to bring social support and to build relationships with like-minded women entrepreneurs.
  • The Living on Purpose Program is a program for women to learn how to up their Bold, Brave and Fearless Factor and keep themselves safe in any situation!  This 90 day program is designed to give them the tools, support and the know-how to get through any situation using your their new “Tuff Tactics”.

The Ultimate Diversity Blueprint includes our DIPS (Diversity, Inclusion, Psychological Safety Programs). It has four key components that will allow the management team and employees within any company, nonprofit or school, to have diversity, inclusion and a safe environment.  This improves productivity, retention, and creates a culture that truly supports all!

The DIPS Programs provide a blueprint for improving communication across your organization. After attending this program your team will have effective strategies that allow everyone to feel safe to share and collaborate.  This will also increase loyalty and investment in the organization's future.

Kids on the Move for Success believes that there are many issues that contribute to the success of children. For children to succeed, they must feel safe, must be transported to a world beyond their everyday life, learn that STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) fields are available to all and that giving back to the community is important in learning acceptance and developing leadership skills. Kids on the Move for Success believes that compassion, confidence and control are foundational elements in the success of children now and in the future. Our programs are designed to be mobile and dynamic, allowing us to impact communities at the local, state and national level.

APPEARANCES

TESTIMONIALS

PROCLAMATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Antoinette Tuff Days in Georgia and Texas

  • September 30

    The City of Savannah, Georgia (Resolution)

  • August 27

    DeKalb County – Atlanta, Georgia

  • August 25

    Congressional District – Atlanta, Georgia

  • April 30

    Missouri City, Texas