From Katie

To KRod, you paved my road to leadership, and for that, I am forever grateful. You saw leadership capacity in me before anyone else, and your perseverance (and the fact that you never take no for an answer! Ha!) encouraged me to expand my classroom walls further and further. From our first meeting in Chelmsford to the many years we collaborated in G‐D (Dream Team!) to our ongoing work around the world, you will always be my BPF (Best Professional Friend). Can't wait to celebrate this book in PR. I'm coming! Love you so much.

To our team at Wiley, especially Natalie Muñoz, Mary Beth Rosswurm, and Christine O'Connor, your organization and support have been so helpful throughout this process. I am prone to biting off a bit more than I can chew, but your timeline, your reminders, and your check‐ins kept us on track on this one. Kim Wimpsett and Amy Handy, we are so grateful for your eagle eyes during the editing process. I am grateful for the opportunity to share our work on a larger scale with leaders worldwide. Truly, I am humbled.

To my colleagues at Novak Education and the many partners and clients I work with, you continue to inspire me, push me, and teach me. Without your feedback, support, love, and laughs, this work wouldn't be as rewarding. To Lindie and Ashley especially, thank you for always helping me to keep it real.

And to my amazing family:

Lon, if I could go back, I would choose you all over again. Thank you for stepping away from your work to support mine. You are the best husband, dad, and partner in crime (although you aren't nearly as funny as me!). Truly, none of this would be possible without you. To Torin, Aylin, Brec, and Boden, this work is driven by my love for each of you. You deserve classrooms that accept you for who you are and provide you with the conditions you need to be wildly successful. Every parent wants that for their children and they shouldn't have to work so hard to get it. When systems work seems overwhelming, I think of you. I always say that every child is somebody's baby, and they deserve the very best. You are my babies and you make me better and happier every day. I am so proud of the people you are.

From Kristan

There is literally only one person who fits into my size fours and sixes as maternity wear, vigorously drinks decaffeinated coffee by the gallon, and whose opinion I intrinsically know is aligned with my vision, values, and goals as an educator, friend, and business partner. The Katie Novak is a blessing I have been given in this lifetime. I am forever grateful for the years we saw each other every day and missing you like crazy on this island.

To my partner in life, Rafael, for being my strength, my love, and my biggest supporter. You are simply and magically my everything. To my children, Rafael, Xavier, and Gabriel, you have grown into talented and visionary men. I am humbled by what you have done with your gifts. To my parents, Dan and Diane, who have always been my mentors, and my sister, Samantha, who was always my second mother, I love you all and am appreciative for the journey you took with me these many years.

To the amazing group of professionals I get to work with every day at Commonwealth Consulting Agency, I am left speechless by your dedication (and that is saying something). To our clients for whom we offer our hearts and minds, we value our relationships with you and our only success is realized through yours. May the future of every child continue to be the spark that lights us all. To my crazy crew of entrepreneurs in Palmas, who invite me daily to converse and learn and grow together, you are the new fountain from which I drink. Lastly, to the amazing team at Wiley, who have kept us on track, on word count, and with task and purpose in mind, I am thankful beyond measure.