The Other Road to Zenith

The Other Road to Zenith takes a humorous look at standards-based accountability in public schools. It follows Mildred Barnstable and Willow Reed, Bland School District administrators, and Dayle and Doug, teachers in a neighboring district. Both pairs plan to attend an education conference but only the administrators make it to Zenith. Dayle and Doug get lost and end up in a student-centered school focused on authentic instruction and assessment. Both pairs experience love and meet intriguing characters while unsavory and sometimes criminal behavior is mixed with idealism. This book will be a favorite of anyone who has worked in U.S. public schools. It provides a humorous but thoughtful look at issues including high-stakes testing, uniform curriculum, and school finance and examines day-to-day challenges such as classroom management and diversity. Readers will laugh at frustrating aspects of their careers while being reminded of why they wouldn't want any other job. Everyone who picks up the book will see themselves and their colleagues in its characters and will enjoy it as entertainment while also being inspired to raise their voices to protect our schools and children.