Stand for the Best

THOMAS M. BLOCH, former CEO of H&R Block and currently a middle school math teacher and president of the board at University Academy, has been involved in a variety of education initiatives since he changed careers. He and his wife, Mary, founded the Youth Service Alliance of Greater Kansas City to encourage and recognize outstanding community service through school-based programs. He is also a founding board member of the Kansas City Foundation for Higher Education, a trustee of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, President of the Endowment Fund for the Henry W. Bloch School of Business at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and chairman of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. He returned to H&R Block in 2000 as a member of the board of directors.

• Acknowledgments. Introduction.1 Off the Block.2 Back to School.3 Into the Trenches.4 On the Learning Curve.5 A Question of Character.6 A New Kind of Urban School.7 Great Expectations.8 Making the Grade.9 Moving the School.10 Real Heroes.11 A Duty to Dream.12 Th e Next Urban Teacher.13 A Calling.14 Midterm Exam.Epilogue.Appendix.Notes.Selected Web Sites.Index.

"The lessons from Mr. Bloch's journey — on the importance of courage, risk-taking, passion and service in our lives — are valuable to us all as citizens, leaders, social-change agents and human beings." (The Washington Times, October 2008)