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Authors Acknowledgments

This book is a product of more than a decade of research and experience pushing the boundaries of the status quo in education. My role as a teachers assistant more than a decade ago at an affluent school in West L.A. was my first look at traditionalism in education from the other side of the teachers desk. A year later, my role as a teacher credential candidate at the Teacher Education Department at CSU, Dominguez Hills, introduced me to mentors James Cantor PhD and master teacher Jeremy Munson who provided the support and practical guidance for an innovative spirit within a traditional school system. My time at Lindsay Unified School District, under the guidance of the Learning Director and my professional mentor Gina Wise and collaborative support of colleagues Steven Miller and Ycxia Padron, introduced me to concepts of performance-based education and took me further into improving the status quo, promoting innovative spirit, and challenging traditionalism in education. The years that followed introduced a number of excellent educators for whom I am forever thankful, in addition to the support of friends and family, including: Adam Corcoran, Alma Jongewaard, Angela Kappner, Brian Post, and the late Dr. Donna Post, Jordan Vargas, Leila Turner, Meg Bristow, Nicholas Zagorin, Sabrina Lozano, Sarah Limongelli, Sonya Brannan, Susan Botanatheir openness and willingness to listen and philosophize with me bolstered that innovative spirit, spurring my desire to further research and develop the philosophy and framework detailed in this book.