Richard E. Maurer is the superintendent of schools of the Pearl River School District and the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner. The author of five previous books, he has served in education for over 30 years, nine as a superintendent, and has taught graduate education classes.
Sandra Cokeley Pedersen authored the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award application for the Pearl River School District, one of the first three education recipients. As the district's director of quality and community relations, she has been driven for continuous improvement at Pearl River since 1992.