Suffering from multiple disabilities including Tourette’s syndrome, brain injury and speech impediments, Mark defied tremendous odds just in graduating high school yet went on to earn two MA degrees in becoming a successful special education teacher with over 14 years of experience helping students with disabilities.
At age seven, he began demonstrating bizarre nervous tics that no one understood or could explain. He displayed significant behaviors, committed vandalism, got into many fistfights, and had poor grades. In short, he was a teacher’s nightmare.
Mark barely graduated high school and was admitted to Colorado State University-Pueblo on probationary status. After earning a BA in English, he pondered next steps. He thought about the people in his life that made the greatest impact: educators. He decided to go to grad school to become a special education teacher to help students who had similar struggles as him.
As a special education teacher, “Mr. C.” learned that students, with or without disabilities, need positive relationships in their lives. As a child, Mark was what one would term "a behavior kid." However, it took a positive relationship with, of all people, the detention lady to inspire him to reform his behavior and set realistic and serious goals for his life.
When “Mr. C.” first began teaching, it quickly became the second “love of his life” (Poetry being the “first”). “Mr. C.’s” students realized that he, too, was “different.” Because of this, he was able to connect with his students in unique ways and form positive relationships with them.
Now, as a special education teacher, he builds positive relationships with his students every day to help them reach their potential academically and socially, but more importantly, he teaches them that they can prevail over great obstacles, that success looks different for everyone, to become contributing members of society, and to embrace diversities.
They can do it because “Mr. C.” did it.
Through the conventions of poetry, from his book, Fingerprints (Turning Point Press), humor, and anecdotes, Mark chronicles his successes, as well as the shared successes of his students in overcoming their disabilities. the powerful impact of positive relationships, and the perseverance necessary in overcoming negative relationships that life often toils us with.
A positive relationship is so powerful!
As a student with disabilities, Mark needed positive relationships; students, today, need these same types of relationships. Mark strives to inspire students with disabilities, teachers of every discipline, and anyone who has been told they cannot overcome significant life adversities that they can triumph over any challenge with determination, hard work, and a positive attitude.
“Mr. C.’s” motto for his students is “Always believe you can make a difference, but never let your differences keep you from what you believe.”
Speakers 
Motivational Speaker, Special Education Teacher, Published Author & Walking Success Story
My name is Mark Chartier, and I am a special education teacher in Pueblo West, Colorado. I have been teaching special education since 2008. My students know me as "Mr. C."I grew up with Tourette's syndrome. As a child, I exhibited bizarre symptoms that consisted of neck thrusting...
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