 The teacher is the single most important school-level factor in students' performance. And a number of economists were able to demonstrate that clearly. It has changed the whole conversation about the importance of individual teachers being effective. Black education needs to have broad political support. And that the one complaint that is most often voiced about the failure of public schools is incompetent teachers, whether it's true or not. It also interestingly is a complaint raised by new teachers about the presence of people in their schools who shouldn't be teaching. And so I guess the bottom line message is if we don't, if you don't, somebody else will. And with the increase of competing institutions, whether they're out of district charter schools or for profit or online, everything, it's pretty clear that schools have to begin to demonstrate not only that the scores go up, but actually that parents are satisfied broadly with the instruction and support the kids are getting from their teachers. PAR provides a way of really responding to that in a meaningful way to ensure that evaluation is informed by the knowledge and work of expert teachers and that principals aren't left out there alone trying to make it work on their own. This is about kids and that kids have to be put first. But I think those of you who are here today are here because you know that that really can't happen unless teachers are well supported and are in a system that holds them accountable. There's a lot to believe in. It's very complex. And it should have swept the nation by now as a program and it should be a clearly established program in all districts. But it's hard for a number of reasons because it is complex. I interviewed teachers, teachers who'd been consulting teachers in PAR programs and teachers who'd participated in it and other teachers who watched it and principals from schools. And I must say I was so totally taken by the confidence that people had in this program. I remember one teacher saying that if any teacher in this district has that much support from an expert like this consulting teacher and that teacher can't do the job, then that teacher shouldn't be teaching. And it was this combination of the incredible skills, knowledge and expertise and commitment of the consulting teachers to work with both beginning and experienced teachers who needed help. But also the sense of pride about who should be a teacher. My story points out that the PAR system worked. So that teacher is continuing using her experience to help with collaborative problem solving at her school, doing union work and serving students and parents. I always got encouragement when I needed it and I always got some critical responses when I needed it. When my teaching needed improvement I got it and when I needed that reassurance that I was doing something right I got it.