From the Publisher
Lessons of Hope is part memoir, part blueprint for reviving public education, as Joel Klein takes us inside the dramatic struggle to turn around the New York City school system. — Arianna Huffington
“Joel Klein’s grasp of how critically linked a child’s education is to his or her success in life, and what that means for the future of America, make this book a great and important read.” — former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Joel Klein has emerged from the bureaucracy to tell in personal, vivid detail what happened when he and his colleagues attempted to transform the country’s largest school system. — Amanda Ripley, bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World
A book that is inspiring as it is informative about the state of modern education. I hope every parent and teacher in the U.S. reads it. — Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the "Freakonomics" series and host of Freakonomics Radio
Lessons of Hope is a bracing reminder of the need to improve America’s schools so we can deliver on the promise of a great education for everyone. — Bill Gates
This important book is of great value for families making decisions about schools and for policymakers and advocates who are determined to improve our nation’s systems of schools. — Senator Cory A. Booker
“Lessons of Hope is often a compelling account of how determined leadership can remove obstacles to change, and Klein offers a strong defense of his work as an effective leader of reform.” — Daily Beast
“Anyone interested in improving public school systems and learning about the Orwellian nature of contemporary political discourse should read Joel Klein’s Lessons of Hope. — Center on Reinventing Public Education
“Lessons of Hope is unique in the education reform genre, joined perhaps only by Steve Brill’s Class Warfare.The education space is full of policy wonks, but it’s rare to get such insight from the inner trenches of the political battles fought to implement that policy.” — Huffington Post
Center on Reinventing Public Education
Anyone interested in improving public school systems and learning about the Orwellian nature of contemporary political discourse should read Joel Klein’s Lessons of Hope.
former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Joel Klein’s grasp of how critically linked a child’s education is to his or her success in life, and what that means for the future of America, make this book a great and important read.
Bill Gates
Lessons of Hope is a bracing reminder of the need to improve America’s schools so we can deliver on the promise of a great education for everyone.
Senator Cory A. Booker
This important book is of great value for families making decisions about schools and for policymakers and advocates who are determined to improve our nation’s systems of schools.
Stephen J. Dubner
A book that is inspiring as it is informative about the state of modern education. I hope every parent and teacher in the U.S. reads it.
Huffington Post
Lessons of Hope is unique in the education reform genre, joined perhaps only by Steve Brill’s Class Warfare.The education space is full of policy wonks, but it’s rare to get such insight from the inner trenches of the political battles fought to implement that policy.
Amanda Ripley
Joel Klein has emerged from the bureaucracy to tell in personal, vivid detail what happened when he and his colleagues attempted to transform the country’s largest school system.
Arianna Huffington
Lessons of Hope is part memoir, part blueprint for reviving public education, as Joel Klein takes us inside the dramatic struggle to turn around the New York City school system.
Daily Beast
Lessons of Hope is often a compelling account of how determined leadership can remove obstacles to change, and Klein offers a strong defense of his work as an effective leader of reform.
From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY
"Klein presents an honest rundown of the challenges he faced and is very forthright in his portrayals of everyone involved in the process." —Library Journal
Library Journal
11/15/2014
In 2002, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed lawyer Klein chancellor of the NYC Department of Education. With numerous problems plaguing the organization, Klein set about creating a team and structure that could address the issues preventing the city's classrooms from finding success. By focusing on increased accountability and eliminating political roadblocks during his years as chancellor (August 2002–January 2011), Klein and his team were able to turn the school system around, realizing higher graduation rates and improved test scores. The intent of this book is to offer a critical and in-depth look at these years in the form of a self-reflective autobiography. Klein presents an honest rundown of the challenges he faced and is very forthright in his portrayals of everyone involved in the process. Overall, this account provides a vision of schooling that is not highly generalizable; however, the author's fascinating commentary on himself as an individual and on education politics as a whole is engaging. VERDICT For readers with a strong interest in the landscape of education politics, who aren't necessarily looking for practical solutions for their own educational dilemmas. [See Prepub Alert, 6/2/14.]—Rachel Wadham, Brigham Young Univ. Libs., Provo, UT
Kirkus Reviews
2014-09-11
News Corp. executive vice president Klein gives an accounting of the remaking of New York City's school system during his eight-year term as chancellor. Trained as a lawyer and serving in President Bill Clinton's Justice Department, the author was appointed as the head of the nation's largest school system by newly elected Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002, after the state legislature voted to give the mayor full authority over city schools. Using a national network of collaborators, Klein became one of the most influential figures in American education. He was also among the most controversial figures, but he makes it clear that the mayor was in charge. On Martin Luther King Day in 2003, Bloomberg announced the reform program called "Children First," which Klein calls "the most carefully crafted public address of his time in office." Part of the plan included the elimination of New York City's elected school boards, along with the district superintendents' offices. From then on, the schools were to be run centrally. "I wanted control [of the schools]," said Bloomberg, "and I got control. And I am going to do something about it." Klein was tasked with the restructuring of three separate but related problem areas—political, bureaucratic and educational—to benefit the children. First on his agenda was empowering school principals by freeing them from political patronage and bureaucratic obstructionism. To that end, he set up a principals' training institute and program. Over a four-year time frame, the 1,000-page teachers' contract was renegotiated, and curriculum changes were introduced. The author also sought to lower the dropout rate, and he notes that relations with the teachers' union were vital to his efforts to improve the quality of education for New York City students. A skillful account of how Klein maneuvered between parent and teacher concerns and city politics to transform the city's education system.
