Synopsis

As a young book lover with dyslexia, Barbara found the solution to her reading struggles in Miss Gluding, her first-grade teacher, who showed compassion for her student’s plight—and knew how to help her. From that time on, Barbara knew what she wanted to be: a teacher, just like Miss Gluding.

Unfortunately, Barbara also had some bad teachers in the years that ensued—including her sixth-grade teacher, an exacting woman who called attention to Barbara’s learning disabilities in front of classmates. Still wanting to follow in Miss Gluding’s footsteps in 1964, Barbara vowed she would be a better one than her sixth-grade teacher; instead, however, she became very much like her, with unattainable expectations for her students and herself. After seventeen years in the teaching profession, she realized she had to either change her teaching style or change careers. By providence, right as she stood at this crossroads, she was offered the opportunity to teach overseas at The Dragon School in Oxford, England, for a year—an opportunity she jumped at.

In the year that followed, Barbara would rely on her faith in God to give up a lot of what she knew about teaching and learn to do it differently—ways that wouldn’t have room for her perfectionism. In short, she would have to begin again.

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Advance Praise

“In this memoir, an English/dramatic arts teacher recounts a pivotal year at the Dragon School in Britain as part of an exchange program. . . . engaging and thought-provoking. . . . will be of special interest to aspiring as well as seasoned teachers. A well-crafted account about the search for greater flexibility when confronting life’s inevitable challenges.”—Kirkus Reviews

“ . . . engaging . . . This book is an endearing testament to the power of personal growth and reflection in one teacher’s incredibly rich professional life.”—StoryCircle Book Reviews

“In this memoir, Barbara Kennard so expertly captures the array of experiences that teachers encounter—the high and the low, the heartwarming and the hilarious. During her year teaching in Oxford, she comes to learn a new way of approaching both her classroom and her life that makes for an incredibly engaging read. Teachers everywhere will love this book.”—Nadine Kenney Johnstone, writing coach and award-winning author of Of This Much I’m Sure: A Memoir

“For any who struggle to distinguish between perfectionism and a yearning to grow into the fullest version of who God has created us to be, this book is a balm. Barbara Kennard writes candidly and compassionately about the people and places that taught her about self-acceptance and mercy. Her love of great writers and her appreciation for those she teaches and those who teach her shine through in vivid prose and engaging stories. Kennard is a lifelong educator. With humor, honesty, and self-awareness, this book invites readers to learn lessons alongside her about forgiveness, surrender, grace, and love.”—Dr. Jennifer Howe Peace, coeditor of My Neighbor’s Faith: Stories of Interreligious Encounter, Growth, and Transformation and Interreligious/Interfaith Studies: Defining a New Field

“The story of Barbara Kennard’s quest should inspire anyone who feels a calling to seek patiently for the best way to answer it and put it into play. This wise memoir should also remind us that although perfection can never be attained, we stand to have a lot of fun in the pursuit.”—David Smith, author of Be a Teacher: A Memoir in Ten Ideas

Guest Review by Nora

If you are a teacher, you will love this book! In fact, I would even go so far as to say, if you know a teacher, you should give this book to them as a gift. Even if you are not a teacher, you will love it.

Barbara Kennard’s memoir about her time teaching at the Dragon School in Oxford is as compelling as many other memoirs I’ve read, and twice as heartfelt. Kennard was a teacher in the eighties and nineties, and, after teaching at an all-boys school in Boston for several years, she decided that she needed a change of scenery.

The school that she was working at, Fessenden, was not providing her with enough support and the parents were making her feel attacked and underappreciated. But a co-worker at the school told Kennard about a teacher exchange program with the Dragon School that would mean Kennard would get to teach in Oxford, England for a year. This seemed like the perfect job for Kennard, who had begun to wonder if teaching was even the right path for her after all.

After moving to England and meeting the staff and children that attended the Dragon School, Kennard began to slowly acclimate to the differences in culture, curriculum, and what was expected of her as a teacher. The thirteen year-olds that she taught were as sneaky as any teenagers in the States and Kennard had to work to gain their trust and love– a process that she executes with as much grace and kindness as any favorite teacher would.

Reading about Kennard growing to love teaching again after a few hard years in the profession was as rewarding as watching a friend succeed at something. In fact, by the end of the book I almost felt like Kennard was a friend of mine, and I was glad to know her for the brief time that I spent reading her book. She made me think way back when I had a excellent teacher in my life.  I am sure my favorite teacher is long gone but not forgotten! I am sure Kennard’s students will always remember her as well!

About the Author

Barbara Kennard taught English and performing arts to elementary, middle, and high school students from 1980 to 2015 and has received two teaching awards: The Christa McAuliffe Award for Teaching Excellence and The Barbara Kennard Sixth Grade English Prize, established in her name at The Fessenden School by a Fessenden family.

Barbara lives in Texas with her husband, pianist Brady Millican, and their cat, Piper.

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Giveaway

This giveaway is for 3 print copies and is open to the U.S. only.

This giveaway ends on July 15, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

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