Rafe Esquith is one of the most inspiring grade school teachers in America. He is celebrated by The White House, The Dalai Lama and Oprah, and called a “Modern-day Thoreau” by Newsweek. Mr. Esquith has taught kids from some of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles with staggering success. His fifth-students are already tackling high-school fare: algebra, philosophy and Shakespeare. As a result, they consistently score in the top 5-10% on the state standardized tests. Mr. Esquith has been teaching for over 27 years in LAUSD.