Stuart “Mister Stu” Perry, LCSW, ASDCS, is a child therapist, author, and nationally recognized speaker who helps adults better understand kids—so kids and the adults who care for them can thrive.

With more than a decade of professional experience in children’s mental health (and a lifetime spent working with kids in real-world settings), Mister Stu brings research, clinical insight, and lived experience together in a way that is practical, engaging, and immediately usable. His sessions are known for blending humor, powerful storytelling, and clear takeaways that attendees can apply the very next day—whether they work in schools, mental health, childcare, or with families.

Mister Stu challenges common myths about behavior and mental health while offering a compassionate, play-based lens for understanding what kids are really communicating. Attendees consistently describe his presentations as energizing, validating, and grounding—leaving them feeling both encouraged and better equipped to support the children in their lives.

Above all, Mister Stu’s work is rooted in one core belief: Bad Kids Don’t Exist. You can learn more about Mister Stu at www.BadKidsDontExist.com and follow him @MisterStuTV on YouTube and social media

I’m a passionate speaker and workshop facilitator dedicated to empowering educators, parents, and communities to harness the power of play.

Since 2001, I have been the owner of Barron Park Playschool in Palo Alto. I work both in and out of the classroom and have an in-depth understanding of the ways in which children perceive and interact with their world.  I’m an advocate for keeping play in childhood.

I specialize in communicating the value of creativity and play in peoples’ lives – both for adults and children. I offer engaging sessions on play, creativity, and the Positive Approach to working with children.

Paul travels all over the United States providing keynotes and interactive workshops for Head Start and Early Head Start conferences, and his workshops are without PowerPoint!  He also provides workshops directly for staff and leadership, either at their location or virtually. 

Paul was a police officer / detective for close to 13 years and during that time, he spent much of that time in the Street Gang Unit.  It was there that he realized he wasn’t having the positive impact he wanted – he wanted to help people live happier and safer lives.

In 1998, he left law enforcement and started his non-profit, The Village Project, which he ran for over twenty years.  During that time, he provided his Violence Prevention/ Self Esteem classes and groups for tens of thousands of children and parents using the curriculum he created.

Paul keynoted his Seven Steps to Phenomenal Management Skills to the “Largest HR Conference Ever!” in Singapore, he’s received the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention Award and has appeared on Radio Disney and the Today Show.

To see a list of the various ways Paul can support you and your staff, feel free to check out his website at www.PaulFigueroa.com.