It took a team to make my dream of publishing a book come true. I could not have accomplished it without the talents and support of many others. 

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My illustrator, Diane DeCoite for enlivening the content with her exceptional drawings.

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I wrote and taught Challenge to Excellence, but when it came to putting into book form, that was a whole new domain and I needed help!  I am indebted to Jesse at Fiverr for his editing expertise, great suggestions, insights, and feedback.  He made me a better writer.

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Kryssha and her team at Formatted Books (www.formattedbooks.com) were amazing. I am so pleased with the results and the back and front covers. 

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Elizabeth Schrey (www.elizabethschrey.com) for her creativity and tech ability to create my website.

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Ginna and David Gordon at Lucky Valley Press (www.luckyvalleypress.com) have been wonderful to work with in bringing this project to fruition.   

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I have always loved listening to books narrated by authors.  I am grateful that I discovered Priscilla Rive at Live Oak Studio in Berkeley, California.  James Ward, an exceptional, accomplished sound engineer and editor at Live Oak Studio both made my book available on Audible.

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For twenty plus years I traveled from San Diego to Alaska and would spend hours with students in a gym. I would return yearly, but never got to really know those kids.  I remember one time that at the beginning of a new class, a boy in the front row looked up at me and said, “Oh yeah, I remember you.  You wore that same green suit last year!”

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Then, I had an opportunity to teach seventh grade at Chipman Middle School in Alameda, California.  I got to know and love those priceless, precious angels and see that the principles of Challenge to Excellence made a positive impression on them.  I am eternally grateful to them, and they are the main inspiration for this book.

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Of course, I couldn’t have accomplished this without the support and encouragement of my husband, Peter and three sons, Stephen, Michael, Peter Ryan for allowing me to tell some of their stories to validate that if they could accomplish their goals so could my students.

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Because of the death of Peter Ryan, this book has also become a testament to him.  He knew he was worthy and loved his friends and family unconditionally.

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This is a family communication workbook to help you through these turbulent years.  This is my story and about the importance of God, family, country, realizing your gifts and talents, and achieving your goals.