For more than thirty years, Jaylyn Rose has been a teacher and middle school counselor. Shes proud of being able to make a difference in hundreds of students lives, and shes having one of her best years ever. Then a new principal shows up and throws Jaylyns world completely off balance. Known to staff as the witch, the principal at Fawn Forest Independent School District is nothing short of a bully, and Jaylyn doesnt back down from bullies. But confronting the witch backfires, and the school district moves Jaylyn to a lesser position. Shaken by the mistreatment from the witch and the district, Jaylyn seeks justice. But discovering a wicked and fraudulent system is not what she anticipated Unwilling to accept the schools disingenuous excuse for her removal, Jaylyn launches an investigation into the tainted school district and determines to root out the corruption. Tackling roadblocks, lies, and the supremacy of the superintendentaka the wizardJaylyn discovers she is not alone in her endeavor as other colleagues come forward with their own sordid tales. Fighting as an underdog against such a powerful school system isnt easy, but Jaylyn doesnt have a choice. Her personality demands that she fight for her career and reputation, exposing terrible indiscretions of powerful people along the way.

A fawn lies still in the forest as various predators walk by.

Place-based education is on the rise. Tired of “teaching to the test,” educators are looking for authentic ways to connect their curriculum to real life. The place-based approach brings students into their communities to learn necessary content and skills by working to meet the needs of local agencies and organizations. Students are more engaged because they know they are doing real work, teachers are reinvigorated by creating exciting learning opportunities, and the school takes on a more active role in the community. At the heart of this process is the place itself: the land, the history, and the culture. Bringing School to Life: Place-Based Education across the Curriculum by Sarah Anderson offers insights into how to build a program across the K-8 grades. Anderson addresses key elements such as mapping, local history, citizen science, integrated curricula, and more. Additionally, Anderson suggests strategies for building community partnerships and implementation for primary grades. This book goes beyond theory to give concrete examples and advice in how to make place-based education a real educational option in any school.