In six years of editing the education digest Curriculum Review, author Frank Sennett learned three things about quote books for teachers: They are plentiful, popular–and incredibly repetitive. Each drains the same reservoir of great thoughts and pithy observations offered by the immortal likes of Maria Montessori, JFK, Mark Twain, and the full range of Greek philosophers. Repackage these quotations under new titles, it seems, and you’ve got another year’s worth of perfect gifts for the teachers in your life. Teacher of the Year taps into that evergreen market with a different type of gift book: one that mines a previously unexplored cache of quotations on education, all tied into a fresh, appealing hook. The book features wisdom from educators named Teacher of the Year by their school, district, state, or a national organization. Gathered together for the first time, these insights will help even the most jaded instructor reconnect with the joy of teaching. The quotes in Teacher of the Year strike a nice balance between the profound/philosophical and the lighthearted. Regardless of tome, all of the quotes ring true and will resonate with all types of teachers. The quotes are divided into subcategories for pleasant browsing. These include broad topics such as: It’s More than a Job…Teaching as a Calling; Parents as Partners; It’s All About the Kids; It’s a Matter of Principal (and School Board); When the Going Gets Tough…Overcoming Burnout; Teaching for Tomorrow, Today; Class Dismissed!? The Fallacy of Great Hours; and so on. This small-format, hardcover, original along the lines of our other quote books is a natural gift for a teacher at any level, whether for Christmas, a birthday, a promotion, graduation from a teacher training program, etc. The book should sell steadily and backlist well. A Page-a-Day calendar licensing deal would be a natural extension. Finally, as someone who spent 7 years as a classroom teacher, I can attest to the fact that I would’ve much preferred receiving this encouraging little volume instead of another “World’s Greatest Teacher” mug, wooden apple paperweight, or box of peanut brittle at the holidays!
