This book is a crisp and cogent narration and conversation in two parts. The first part, 'Lessons to Learn', recounts the author's journey through some of the difficult, embarrassing, successful, humorous, sad and joyful events of her development as a teacher and school leader. The second part, 'Lessons to Share', looks at the artistry of teaching and discusses the most important aspects of how to engage, understand and teach students in a school setting. These chapters, drawn from the author's teaching experience, outline and advocate such priorities as knowing each child deeply, building a classroom community, designing individual learning to meet each child's needs, building fun into the school day and helping students become independent and knowledgeable in a fast-changing world. It is based on the premise that the teacher is one of the most significant factors in a student's success at school.