NATCHEZ — Teachers and administrators left the Natchez Convention Center Wednesday believing they can help change the Natchez-Adams School District this school year.

And the inspirational speech that made them believe came from a seventh-grade student.

Xavian Lewis, a student at Robert Lewis Magnet School, spoke during the district’s convocation ceremony, which was centered around one common theme — “believe.”

Lewis used an acronym to break down each letter of the word.

“It was my way of trying to help get all these teachers inspired and fired up about the new year,” Lewis said. “I know if a teacher inspires me, it makes a big difference so I want them to do that with all of the students in the district.”

In Lewis’ acronym, “B” stood for blessing and how the teachers should view the students as enriching their lives.

“E” stood for exemplify greatness, and Lewis challenged the teachers to be positive role models for the students around them.

“L” stood for live, laugh, love because happy teachers make happy, productive students, Lewis said.

“I” stood for inspire, and Lewis told the room full of NASD employees that good teachers explain, while great teachers inspire.

“E” stood for encourage, which Lewis said all teachers should do for their students.

“V” stood for value, and Lewis told the teachers they should be proud of their profession.

“E” stood for energetically engage young minds because Lewis said students soak up knowledge from those who are enthusiastic about what they do.

Lewis ended his speech with a quote from famed writer and social reformer Frederick Douglass.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men,” Lewis said, quoting Douglas.

The words from the middle school student resonated with Amanda Farmer, who is a new teacher in the district at the freshman academy.

“He is such a well spoken student, and his speech was such great inspiration to me,” Farmer said. “He reminded us to believe and remember that every student can learn and that each of them deserves the same opportunities to learn.

“He had me fired up and ready to go.”

Cartrell Hammitte, who will be a counselor at the new Morgantown Academies this year, said the entire convocation served as an inspiration to do great things this school year.

The Morgantown Academies are the various smaller learning community modules created at the Morgantown campus that came out of a plan to restructure the middle and high school.

“It had me believing in the kids, the system and remembering that they can succeed no matter what,” Hammitte said. “I know there’s always going to be critics out there, but we need to believe in ourselves and stay focused on what we’re trying to do, which is help these kids succeed.”

The convocation ceremony is hosted before the start of each school year and is intended to kick off the upcoming year with various guest speakers and activities.

The first day for Natchez schools is Aug. 11.