End Note

I Am From By Emanuel

I am from trash can
I am from snow in the wild
From the trees in the park
I am from the violin to the bikes
And the cars
Last, but not least,
I am from the houses of my neighborhood

I am from my PS2, my Gamecube, X Box, TV
And the pencil that writes in my secret notebook
I am from the computer, I type on.
I’m from the family, that’s far, far, away

I am from Indiana, Louisiana, Montana
And the Caribbean
I am from rice, chicken and beans
I am from "Don’t look in the refrigerator
If nothing’s in there!"

The bottom line in accountability is the individual student: helping each child reach the highest potential, no matter what challenges he might face. Emanuel—from the Anchorage elementary school profiled on page 30—is just one of the nation’s 12.5 million Title I students who hold us accountable at the end of the day.