Liliana S. Aguas, LeConte Elementary School, Berkeley, CA -- Josh Anderson, Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe, KS -- Daryl Bilandzija, Odyssey Charter School, Altadena, CA -- Josh Bill, Waukegan High School, Waukegan, IL -- Betty Brandenburg, Walker Intermediate School, Fort Knox, KY -- Peggy Carlisle, Pecan Park Elementary School, Jackson, MS -- Jeffrey Charbonneau, Zillah High School, Zillah, WA -- Jason Chuong, The School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA -- Dave Crumbine, KIPP Academy Middle School, Houston, TX -- Alvin A. Davis, Miramar High Schook, Miramar, FL -- Marlo E. Diosomito, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Houston, TX -- Walter Patrick Earle, McBee High School, McBee, SC -- Rafe Esquith, Hobart Boulevard Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA -- Michelle Evans, Valley Elementary School, Eden, UT -- Jo-Ann Fox, Reidy Creek Elementary School, Escondido, CA -- Jason Fulmer, The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, Rock Hill, SC -- Michael Goodwin, Concord-Carlisle Regional High School, Concord, MA -- Erik Herndon, Jean Childs Young Middle School, Atlanta, GA -- Keil E. Hileman, Monticello Trails Middle School, Shawnee, KS -- Jay Hoffman, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, VT -- Celeste Hoffpauir, Leadership Public High School Hayward, Hayward, CA -- Elisabeth Jaffe, Baruch College Campus High School, New York, NY -- Alex Kajitani, Conway Elementary School, Escondido, CA -- Julia King, DC Prep Edgewood Middle Campus, Washington, D.C. -- Kristi Law, Roosevelt Elementary School, Keego Harbor, MI -- Janey Layman, Southmoreland Middle School, Scottdale, PA.;"Celebrating educators, who go far above and beyond the call of duty, American Teacher shines a spotlight on one of the most underappreciated, undercompensated, yet critically important professions in the world. Over the course of two years, Katrina Fried has interviewed and written the stories of 50 extraordinary teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade, selected from public and charter schools across the United States. The result is a collection of inspiring and informative first person-narratives accompanied by heartfelt letters from students and captivating portraits taken by celebrated photographers from around the country"--;"Celebrating educators, who go far above and beyond the call of duty, American Teacher shines a spotlight on one of the most underappreciated, undercompensated, yet critically important professions in the world. Over the course of two years, Katrina Fried has interviewed and written the stories of 50 extraordinary teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade, selected from public and charter schools across the United States. The result is a collection of inspiring and informative first person-narratives accompanied by heartfelt letters from students and captivating portraits taken by celebrated photographers from around the country such as Peter Feldstein, Roman Cho, Paul Natkin and Laura Straus. American Teacher introduces us to classroom heroes like Stephen Ritz of NYC's South Bronx, who uses sustainable agriculture as a tool to engage and inspire his neighborhood's most at-risk special-needs students; Rafe Esquith, a trail-blazing, multi-award-winning educator and author, who has spent 31 years teaching 5th grade from within the same four walls at Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles; and Iowan Sarah Brown Wessling who's unique "learner-centered" approach to teaching high school English earned her the 2010 National Teacher of the Year award. These are our most unsung heroes, the men and women responsible for molding and preparing our children to meet the challenges of the 21st century. In the face of increasing class sizes, insufficient resources, and budget cuts, many of our teachers are dipping into their own pockets and personal time to bridge the gap for their students; they are finding innovative and engaging solutions to institutional problems and changing the outcome of countless lives in the process. Hear their stories, see their faces, and join us as we pay tribute to their passion and sacrifice"--;Dr. David B. Lazerson, The Quest Center, Hollywood, FL -- Genein Letford, New Academy Canoga Park, Los Angeles, CA -- Glenn D. Lid, Proviso East High School, Maywood, IL -- Susan Menkes, George A. Jackson Elementary School and Jerico Middle School, Jericho, NY -- Angie Miller, Holderness Central School, Holderness, NH -- Helena Moss-Jack, Elmhurst Community Prep and Alliance Academy Middle School, Oakland, CA -- Alma Suney Park, Eastside College Preparatory School, East Palo Alto, CA -- Sharon Patelsky, Everglades Elementary School, West Palm Beach, FL -- Ronald W. Poplau, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, KS -- Donna Porter, Picayune Memorial High School, Picayune, MS -- Jennifer Rae Ramsey, The SEED School of Washington, DC, Washington, D.C. -- Stephen Ritz, Bronx Community School District 8, New York, NY -- Karry Salazar, Opal Charter School of the Portland Children's Museum, Portland, OR -- Jenni L. Schneiderman, Academy for Global Citizenship, Chicago, IL -- Greg Schwanbeck, Westwood High School, Westwood, MA -- Neal Lutchme Singh, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York, NY -- Clint Smith, Parkdale High School, Riverdale, MO -- Emily E. Smith, Cunningham Elementary School, Austin, TX -- Brigitte Tennis, Stella Schola Middle School, Redmond, WA -- Melanie Tolan, Sarah Anthony School at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, San Diego, CA -- Jane Klir Viau, Frederick Douglass Academy 1, New York, NY -- Sarah Brown Wessling, Johnston High School, Johnston, IA -- Esther Wojcicki, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA -- Pat Yongpradit, Springbrook High School, Silver Spring, MD.