We can help students surpass the barriers to unfinished learning if we acknowledge the challenges and think differently about how we approach teaching and learning.

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Sarah D. Sparks is a reporter and data journalist for Education Week who has covered education research and the science of learning for more than 15 years. Sarah joined Education Week in 2010 and has published on education and other issues in Education Daily, the Republican-American, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and others. A New Orleans native, she now calls Maryland home.

Dennis Griffin serves as the principal of Prairie Elementary School and is pursuing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. Dennis is a servant leader that seeks to build collaborative cultures that enhance the future for ALL students, educators, and communities at large.

Danny Hill spent thirty-three years as a practitioner teaching science, economics, history, health and coaching football/basketball at the secondary level for ten years. Learning Master Teacher status. He spent four years as a high school assistant principal before becoming head principal of Southside, a large K-8 school, where he remained for twenty years. He is the author of three successful books, Power of ICU, Brick House and Grade Cleanse. He is also a nationally respected authority on student apathy and school culture. Danny has presented to thousands of educators in twenty-five states. www.poweroficu.com