John H. Clarke began teaching high school English in Massachusetts in 1966. He moved to Vermont in 1977 to teach secondary education and help run a teaching improvement program at the University of Vermont. He joined the research team working on the Secondary Initiative at LAB—the Education Alliance at Brown University—focusing on student engagement and high school personalization. Often with others, he has written or edited several books and many articles, focusing on high school change, high school teaching, and thinking strategies. He helped create a system of professional development schools in Vermont, linking teacher preparation and school improvement. For more than 20 years, he has worked to engage all students with the faculty and staff at Mount Abraham Union High School in Bristol, where he received an education recognition award in 2002. In the same year, he received the Vermont ASCD Leadership award. He continues to teach writing and thinking skills in Vermont. He can be reached by e-mail at jhclarke@gmavt.net or by phone at 802-453-2681.