The Achievable Dream: College Board Lessons on Creating Great Schools

The Achievable Dream: College Board Lessons on Creating Great Schools is an inspiring look at solutions to the challenges facing education in America, from one of the nation's leading authorities. Based on the personal observations of Gaston Caperton, President of the College Board and former Governor of West Virginia, these stories provide hope for the future and specific lessons of educational success that can be replicated in schools across the country – featuring students, parents, educators, policy-makers and communities that are bucking the trends and demonstrating how America can again be a world leader in education.

Using 10-15 real-world case studies that highlight common traits of successful schools – including rigorous coursework taught by dedicated and skilled teachers; parental involvement; high standards that engage and challenge students; and support from local communities, colleges, and businesses – Caperton highlights models of success that reinforce one central theme: Improving education in America requires a shared commitment to learning that must become a national priority.

Gaston Caperton is a former two-term governor of West Virginia and a lifelong advocate for excellence in education. He has served as president of the College Board since 1999 and will step down in June 2012. Over the past decade, Caperton has transformed the College Board from an assessment company into a mission-driven, values-based organization and a leading voice in the national dialogue on education. His work on behalf of students, teachers andschools has been recognized with numerous awards, including 10 honorary doctoral degrees.
Richard Whitmire, a veteran newspaper reporter and former editorial writer at USA Today, is the author of The Bee Eater: Michelle Rhee Takes on the Nation's Worst School District (Jossey-Bass, 2011). He is also the author of Why Boys Fail: Saving Our Sons from an Educational System That's Leaving Them Behind (Amacom, 2010). Whitmire's commentaries appear frequently in publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Whitmire is a former president of the National Education Writers Association. In 2009, he was the Project Journalist for the Broad Prize for Urban Education.