Watching the Major League Baseball All-Star game this week made me appreciative of the all-star team who helped to make this book possible. The lineup:
Owner: Philippa Stratton, for being the Abner Doubleday of education publishing.
General Manager: Dan Tobin, for his expert guidance of the franchise.
Front Office: Rebecca Eaton, Chuck Lerch, Chris Downey, Jay Kilburn, Jill Cooley, Nate “the Great” Butler, Chandra Lowe, Zsofia McMullin, Pam King, Lise Wood, Elaine Cyr, and anyone else behind the scenes at Stenhouse for their work in supporting this book. Special kudos as well to Lucian Burg for his design of this book and to Erin Trainer for her keen copyediting skills.
My agent: my wife, Kristin, whose immeasurable behind-the-scenes support, as always, keeps me up and running. No way this book happens without her. My love to Caitlin and Devin as well.
Manager: Bill Varner, my editor at Stenhouse, for making the right moves on our sixth book together.
Pitcher: Penny Kittle, for her persistent “pitches” from afar, which motivated me to start writing again, and for her wise feedback on some early sections of this book. “Nulla Dies Sine Linea.”
Catcher: Deborah Kenny, founder of the Harlem Village Academies, for carrying on the fight despite all the problems thrown at her—and for inviting me to work with her teachers.
1B: Ariella Diamond, principal of Harlem Village Academy East Middle, for her enthusiastic support. Ariella, if you are wondering why I placed you at first base, ask Jess.
2B: Jeff Anderson, for no other reason than that I once promised him I would always mention him in my books.
SS: Robert Cunard, principal of Magnolia High School in Anaheim, California, for his slick fielding of my leave of absence request. My appreciation goes to the Education Division of the AUHSD as well.
3B: Jason Epting, principal of Harlem Village Academy West Middle, for his ability to handle anything hit his way, as well as for his graciousness and overall awesomeness.
LF: Donna Santman, for challenging my thinking, and for the deep influence she has had in the writing of this book. Donna, I remain awed by your intellect and courage. You should almost be listed as coauthor of this book. Almost.
CF: Julie Wright, for agreeing to eat at Applebee’s, but more importantly, for helping me when I got stuck while writing this book, and for occasionally helping me to bring Donna Santman in from deep left field.
RF: Tom Newkirk, for the e-mail you sent encouraging me to start writing again. That meant a lot. And don’t feel bad playing right field; that’s where Tony Conigliaro and Dwight Evans played.
DH: My students, both in California and in New York, for repeatedly stepping up to the plate.
Bullpen: Tiffany DiPeralta, Rachael Dolan, Dave Hibler, Anna Knutson, Ashley LoTempio, Gavin Nangle, Martin Palamore, John Sharkey, Henry Wellington III, and Isabel Yalouris for allowing me to spend a year in your classrooms. Your students’ work grace these pages.
Coaches: Richard Allington, Harvey and Elaine Daniels, Shelley Harwayne, George Hillocks, Carol Jago, Penny Kittle, Stephen Krashen, Judith Langer, Tom Newkirk, Erik Palmer, Grant Wiggins, Maja Wilson, Maryanne Wolf, and Yong Zhao, for their wisdom.
My gratitude to everyone on this team is deep and lasting—and for those of you who were worried about me, rest assured that living in New York did not turn me into a Yankees fan.