Teacher by Teacher

About this book

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