For more than forty years, my life unfolded inside classrooms—rooms filled with chalk dust, questions, and the unforgettable faces of thousands of students who shaped me as much as I ever hoped to shape them. As I look back on my journey through the public school system—from the Vietnam era to the present—I’m struck by how deeply those years continue to resonate through my life today. This blog post is part of a new chapter where I continue to shape and inspire others!