Stand for the Best: What I Learned after Leaving My Job as CEO of H&R Block to Become a Teacher and Founder of an Inner-City Charter School

241 Pages·2008·2.45 MB·English

by  Thomas M. Bloch

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Stand for the Best
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Stand for
the Best
What I Learned Aft er
Leaving My Job as
CEO of H&R Block to
Become a Teacher and
Founder of an
Inner-City Charter School
THOMAS M. BLOCH
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Copyright © 2008 by Th omas M. Bloch. All rights reserved.
Published by Jossey-Bass
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bloch, Th omas M.
Stand for the best : what I learned aft er leaving my job as CEO of H&R Block to become a
teacher and founder of an inner-city charter school / Th omas M. Bloch. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-18896-5 (alk. paper)
1. Education, Urban—United States. 2. Bloch, Th omas M. 3. Mathematics teachers—
Missouri—Kansas City 4. Charter schools—Missouri—Kansas City. 5. Teaching—Social
aspects—United States. 6. Career changes. I. Title.
LC5131.B58 2008
371.10092—dc22
[B]
2008001014
Printed in the United States of America
first edition
HB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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“I have so many books on my list to read and I rarely fi nd the
time or inclination. Th ey all start sounding the same aft er a
while. Not this one. It’s like a steamy mystery but better. Tom
Bloch’s story is beyond good. It’s real—about what a man who
had everything in the proverbial sense did to restore a notion of
excellence to schools that is all too oft en missing. It’s a testament
to what matters most, with keen insights into the failures we’ve
endured in urban schools and a prescription for change that can
no longer be overlooked.”
—Jeanne Allen, president, Th e Center for
Education Reform
“Th omas Bloch is one of those rare people who ‘walk the walk’
and put their ethics into practice. His extraordinary eff orts to
educate so many forgotten children, and to fi gure out the busi-
ness of education, prove that people truly can change the world.
Stand for the Best is well- written, compelling, thought-provoking,
and inspiring. I believe Tom has achieved his goal of doing some-
thing important with his ‘one and only life,’ and I hope his exam-
ple will be wildly contagious among America’s business leaders.”
—LouAnne Johnson, author of Dangerous Minds,
Th e Queen of Education, and
Teaching Outside the Box
“Mr. Bloch rewards readers with a humorous, honest, and hugely
upbeat book. You will feel good as you go through Bloch’s
encouraging, entertaining story.”
—Joe Nathan, director, Center for School Change at the
University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute
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“On his way to fi nding his life’s purpose, Tom Bloch identifi es
and tackles from many perspectives one of America’s biggest
challenges: providing educational equity for all its children. Th e
story of his journey is written with humility, honesty, and humor.
Th is is a wise book that will both inspire and help those who are
similarly seeking.”
—Linda L. Edwards, dean, UMKC School of Education
“Tom Bloch’s transition from CEO of H&R Block to inner-city
math teacher in Kansas City is a selfl ess portrait in educational
leadership. . . . Bloch’s devotion to his students, his community,
and his loving family hold vital lessons for the nation. In this
p rofound treatise his vision and courage are as striking as they are
understated.”
—John Baugh, Margaret Bush Wilson Professor in Arts and
Sciences; director, African and African American Studies,
Washington University in St. Louis
“What an inspiring and enjoyable book! Stand for the Best
describes Tom Bloch’s fascinating journey from a successful CEO
to an outstanding teacher and founder of an inner city charter
school. Th e author also shares his valuable insights on the keys to
personal success and the importance of giving back to one’s com-
munity. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to
have a rewarding career and make a diff erence in the world!”
—Dr. Michael Song, ranked as the World’s #1 Innovation
Management Scholar
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“Stand for the Best should be read by any educator who wants to
make a memorable diff erence in the dreams, character, and lives
of young people, especially those who face tough odds. It should
also be read by any person, whatever our calling, who wants to
leave a lasting legacy for good. I loved this book.”
—Tom Lickona, co-author, Smart & Good High Schools;
director, Center for the 4th and 5th Rs, State University
of New York at Cortland
“Why would a guy turn in the keys to the CEO suite? In Tom
Bloch’s case, it’s because he heard a call to do something radical
with his life: serve inner-city kids. Stand for the Best is the sur-
prising, engaging story of a corporate leader who discovered real
power in helping kids fi nd the potential others had ignored. For
those who follow the school- policy wars, the book is particularly
valuable for its lack of ideological cant. Bloch’s insights about
charter schools, character education, and teacher training emerge
from his own fi rst-hand experience in urban education.”
—Nelson Smith, president, National Alliance for
Public Charter Schools
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