Teacher by Teacher - by John B King (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

From the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education, a deeply personal love letter to all the teachers in our lives.

The story of John B. King Jr.'s inspiring path to President Obama's Cabinet begins the day that his mother died. He insisted on going to school that day, knowing he would find comfort in his classroom. While some might have dismissed a rebellious young Black and Puerto Rican teen whose life was in crisis, King's teachers and counselors gave him a second chance.

King went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale and committed his career to trying to do for other young people what educators did for him. Teacher By Teacher is an inspiring account of how dedicated educators--both King's own teachers and the phenomenal teachers who he has encountered throughout his career as a teacher, principal, and education policymaker--can profoundly shape the lives of their students. King's experiences constantly reinforce the role of schools as places of survival, healing, and hope.

This book is about overcoming challenges and the mentors who help us make it through them. Teacher By Teacher will inspire students, parents, teachers, and everyone who believes in the transformative power of education. But more than that, this book examines the life-changing impact of mentorship, especially for those who are underserved by public institutions and social systems in America.

"Teacher By Teacher is more than John King's story. It's an invitation to redesign schools to provide all young people--especially those most marginalized--with the inspiration, love, and support they need to thrive." ―James Forman Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Locking Up Our Own

Review Quotes

"[John] knows as well as anyone that making a country great is always about raising the next generation, that nurturing children-intellectually, emotionally and spiritually-is a group effort, and that for some children, as he puts it, "a great teacher is the only hope.""--USA Today

"Teacher by Teacher is a captivating story of survival and hope. John King offers a window into what is possible when classrooms inspire kids--no matter their circumstances--with hope, equip them with the skills necessary to succeed, and nurture them with love."--Arne Duncan, 9th U.S. Secretary of Education

"Teacher by Teacher is an important book, not just for educators, but for anyone who has an interest in exploring nuanced, innovative, and passionate leadership at all levels--from the classroom to the federal government."--Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director, General Catalyst; Former Chairman and CEO, American Express

"Teacher By Teacher is more than John King's story. It's an invitation to redesign schools to provide all young people--especially those most marginalized--with the inspiration, love, and support they need to thrive."--James Forman Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Locking Up Our Own

"I am grateful to John King for sharing his inspirational story and highlighting the true heroes for so many of us."--Loretta E. Lynch, 83rd Attorney General of the United States

"In Teacher By Teacher, John King powerfully describes not only the ways education saved and shaped his life, but how supporting our teachers can unlock a brighter future for every child everywhere and strengthen democracy itself. This is a must-read book for educators, policymakers, parents and citizens committed to building a better future."--Deval Patrick, former Governor of Massachusetts

"Teachers are so often students' first and last line of defense when they are at their most vulnerable. John King's riveting account of how his teachers helped him find his way amidst unspeakable hardships and how he went on to lead a life of service as a teacher, school leader, and policymaker reminds us that teachers inspire hope in the darkest of times and light the way to brighter futures."--Anthony Abraham Jack, author of The Privileged Poor and Class Dismissed

"Teachers changed my life. Thankfully, they changed John King's as well. Teacher by Teacher is proof of the power of an educator--filled with twists, turns, and some of the best that our schools have to offer. Compelling, inspiring, and full of hope."--Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod

"The best antidote to poverty, violence, and despair is hope--and that is what you can find in the pages of John King's Teacher by Teacher. Every educator--and more than that, everyone who cares about education equity--should have Teacher by Teacher on their bookshelf."--Geoffrey Canada, President & Founder of the Harlem Children's Zone and author of Fist Stick Knife Gun

"We are from different parties and have different political perspectives, but John King and I share the unshakeable conviction that education is the path to greater opportunity and prosperity. Teacher By Teacher offers important insights into John King's inspiring personal journey, how schools can be structured to successfully close achievement gaps, and what states and the federal government can do to ensure that all children--regardless of race or family income--are prepared to succeed."--Margaret Spellings, 8th U.S. Secretary of Education and President & CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center

"Whether you are a college student considering a career in education, a first-year teacher just beginning your professional journey, or a seasoned veteran educator, you will find inspiration, insights, and hope in the pages of Teacher by Teacher."--Wendy Kopp, CEO and Co-Founder of Teach For All & Founder of Teach For America

About the Author

John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama's cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization. King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation's largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King's parents were career New York City public school educators. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, an education researcher and former teacher, and his two daughters.