Blame and betrayal are the emotional enemies of improvement.

One or two bad teachers is a problem with the teachers. A school with many bad teachers is a problem of leadership.

There is no algorithm for creativity.

The quality & morale of teachers is absolutely central to the well being of students and their learning.

We need standards with flexibility, not standardization with force if we are to get the best from our teachers.

High performing organizations have cultures of creativity and risk. They encourage workers to innovate and play.

Teachers create and transform energy. They are the dynamos of educational change.

It's important to be innovative when times are prosperous. It's essential to be innovative when they are not.

Standardized personalization=universal right to meaningful learning. Personalized standardization=flexible access to mandated learning.

The bags that teachers carry home symbolize their guilt about the endless care they have to give.

We must never return to the Julie Andrews curriculum where we teach "a few of my favorite things"!

Just know that the achievement of anything grand takes consistent effort year after year. Motivation can uphold you intermittently, but it has too few calories to sustain a life.

I hate that. I hate kids like that so fugging much.

You learned to run from what you feel, and that's why you have nightmares. To deny is to invite madness. To accept is to control.

Youth is gone -- gone -- and will never come back: can't help it.

Being part of a community of writers is huge. I really think that's why people go to MFA programs.

Kennedy was a lot of fun, always. He had something going on. But not Nixon.

Adulthood is interesting to adults. But I would never want to write about stuff I dont feel everybody can connect to.

So true is that unnatural generally means only uncustomary, and that everything which is usual appears natural.

If life isn't about human beings and living in harmony, then I don't know what it's about.

I don't feel 25 years old. Sometimes I feel I'm 12 years old. Sometimes I feel I'm 50 years old.