I am happy to announce that my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds Valor, has just been released. This new volume presents inspirational life stories about some of America’s most amazing teachers. These educators were not only talented teachers, but they were also pioneers, trailblazers, and social reformers influential in America’s history.

I love to tell stories about outstanding teachers. There are so many phenomenal stories that could be told! I believe that teachers represent the best our country has to offer, and, as a group, they are among the most dedicated, hardworking, and talented people anyone can know. It fills me with joy to be able to share the stories of just a few of the amazing individuals who have made such significant contributions to the lives of so many. And it fills me with pride to know that, every day, talented educators all over the country are making significant contributions to the lives of their students.

You can order Chalkboard Heroes from amazon in print now. Simply click on this link be taken to the page where you can order. The e-book versions will be ready, I am told, in about three weeks. Enjoy!

As professional educators, teachers often seek to understand why some students excel in class while others do not. In his 2012 New York Times bestseller How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, author Paul Tough offers valuable insights for why this may be so.

Tough makes a convincing case that it’s not test scores or IQ that makes the difference for who will succeed in the classroom and who will not. He argues that the qualities that matter most have more to do with character—skills such as curiosity, perseverance, optimism, self-control, and resilience. And these are skills that can be taught.

The volume offers an engaging look at why some students can triumph over their obstacles and others can’t. Tough also provides interesting insights about how to help students who have grown up in poverty. The author’s claims are not just suppositions. He cites several recent studies in brain research, and he combines the findings of these studies with his own first-hand observations on the front lines in school reform. This thought-provoking book makes fascinating reading.