Starting a school is demanding work. The adventure can be joyful, even inspiring. With his personal tale, Jim reminds us of both of these qualities, and does so with probity and style. - From the Foreword by Nancy and Theodore Sizer, Trustees and former Co-Principals of the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School; ""A first rate telling of the fascinating story of the Parker Charter School - its agonies and ecstasies, trials and tribulations, disappointments and hopes. But ultimately, a hope-filled story about America's effort to reinvent its public schools."" - Bruno V. Manno, The Annie E.

Casey Foundation, co-author Charter Schools in Action; ""Jim Nehring has managed to capture, with deep honesty, the messiness that comes when a new school grapples with the dilemma of creating a genuinely collaborative learning community."" - Nancy Mohr, The Professional Development Laboratory, New York University.