Wildflowers - by Jonathan P Raymond (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Wildflowers is both one man's journey into the joys and sorrows of leading a large urban school district in the 21^st century, and a gripping, highly informative guide to transforming America's public schools. Every child, Jonathan Raymond believes, is as exceptional and unique as a wildflower, able to adapt and grow even in the face of adverse conditions. As Superintendent of a district beset by budget cuts and neglect, Raymond spearheaded innovative, radical changes that raised test scores and graduation rates, and made "failing" schools succeed.

Whether you are a parent, educator, policy maker, or concerned taxpayer, your assumptions about public education will melt away as Raymond sets aside ideology to focus on the nonpartisan, evidence-based promise of "Whole Child" education. This child-centered approach, which once made American public schools a source of national pride, was later abandoned by policymakers with no understanding of how children really learn. Raymond's brave stand against top-down bureaucracy and "teaching to the test" led to controversy and even law suits. Driven by his unwavering commitment to children, families, and local communities, he rallied students, parents and teachers, pushing the boundaries to make real change happen. His story is a model for what true leadership in education looks like.

Raymond's riveting first-person account of how to reignite the potential of our youth - regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make - gives every American the tools, insights, and inspiration to get involved and take a stand on an issue critical to our country's future.

All proceeds from the sale of Wildflowers will be donated to advance Whole Child education. For more information, visit www.wholechildchallenge.org.

Review Quotes

"Raymond takes us on a remarkable leadership journey inside a large urban school district in California's state capitol, Sacramento. He brilliantly makes the case that kids have 'heads, hands, and hearts, ' and that we must not neglect any aspect of that reality in their learning.This is a must-read for parents, administrators, teachers, and policy makers who care about children and want the first-hand perspective of a superintendent leader who made a positive difference in improving outcomes for historically underserved students." --Carl A. Cohn, executive director, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence; former superintendent of Long Beach and San Diego, CA, school systems

Raymond's book is a relentless call for seeking, serving, and securing the future of all children. What comes through in Wildflowers is not only the unwavering commitment to the cause, but what to do about it. Read this book and be both inspired and armed with ideas building a new system of whole child support and success."--Michael Fullan, professor emeritus, OISE/University of Toronto

"In this stirring book, inspired by the challenges of leading change on the ground, Jonathan Raymond argues that educating the whole child is just such an idea and that moving beyond lip service demands embracing two critical imperatives: educating the whole person--their social, emotional, and cognitive development-- and attending to their whole life, grounding education in the larger world of family and community beyond school. We mold the future through how we educate our children. What folly to think we can build a society that can address our profound economic, social, and ecological imbalances without making these part of each student's and teacher's journey." --Peter Senge, MIT Sloan School and JWEL (Jameel World Education Lab)

"In his new book, Wildflowers: A Superintendent Challenges America, Jonathan Raymond shares his compelling vision for the education of the 'whole child.' His clear, concise description of the needs of children, parents, and the entire community is well written and easily understood. He is to be commended for ruffling a few feathers as he calls for structural change in the educational system. It's been my pleasure to know and work with him." --Tom Payzant, former superintendent, Boston Public Schools

"This is a book about shifting a school system to address the whole child. It is an insightful narrative of determination to bring a social-emotional lens to improving learning outcomes for students. This important work makes clear that the way to move our educational system forward is to acknowledge that educational excellence is found at the crossroads of empathy and academic learning." --Carrie Wilson, executive director, Mills Teacher Scholars of Mills College School of Education

"For anyone looking for insights and ideas, and who understands why education is so critical to democracy and to our future as a society, this book will serve as a practical guide and a source of inspiration." --Pedro A. Noguera, PhD, UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies

"Courageously honest, Jonathan Raymond gives us humble and well-needed advice to put down our ideologies and put students and families at the center. This is an important book for those of us who recognize the urgency of transforming education and who want to be engaged in discourse that unites us rather than divides us." --Gia Truong, CEO, Envision Education