Giving Wings to Children’s Dreams

Paul D. Houston has established himself as one of the leading spokespersons for American education through his extensive speaking engagements, published articles, and his regular appearances on national radio and television. Formerly executive director of the American Association of School Administrators from 1994 to 2008, Houston has served as a teacher and building administrator in North Carolina and New Jersey. He has also served as assistant superintendent in Birmingham, Alabama, and as superintendent of schools in Princeton, NJ; Tucson, AZ; and Riverside, CA. Houston has served in an adjunct capacity for the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and Princeton University. He has served as a consultant and speaker throughout the United States and overseas, and he has published more than 100 articles in professional journals.

• About the AuthorAcknowledgmentsOpening ThoughtsDedicationForeword by Terrence E. DealIntroduction1. My Wings2. Teachers: Magicians and Conductors3. Attitude=Altitude4. Leaning Our Ladder Against the Right Wall5. Crawling Out of the Box6. How It Ought to Be7. Getting Kids Ready for Democracy8. Getting Kids Ready for School—Raising the Village9. Getting Schools Ready for Kids10. Getting the Words and Symbols Right11. Horse Whispering: Harnessing Technology to Enhance Learning12. The Brain is a Terrible Thing to Waste13. Creativity and the Arts: The Surry, Not the Fringe14. Authentic Accountability15. Lead Is Not a Four Letter Word16. Bored of Education17. Dealing with the Heart and Soul18. A School Worthy of Our Children—A FableAppendix/Study GuideReading List

"Giving Wings to Children’s Dreams is not only a refreshing read with original views on the state of our schools and the efforts of our teachers, but it provides a ‘just in time’ prescription for bringing sanity back into education reform."