Trevor Ragan is on a crusade to improve the way we develop students and athletes.

The Fort Dodge Community School District invites parents and community members to hear him speak about growth mindset and how parents can develop it in their kids Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Fort Dodge Middle School auditorium. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

Individuals with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be developed and that anyone can be good at anything because abilities are due to actions and skill comes from practice. Growth mindset leads to a desire to learn and a tendency to embrace challenges, persist despite obstacles, learn from criticism and be inspired by others’ success.

“A growth mindset recognizes that mistakes are necessary because we use them to help us learn,” Stacey Cole, FDCSD director of education services, said. “Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times before he invented the electric light bulb. He embraced the challenge and persevered. His growth mindset set him up for success. We want to build this in our kids.”

Ragan is a nationally known speaker and coach who says, “The growth mindset is the key to becoming a great learner and achieving our goals in sports, in school and in life.”