Author Barbara D. Katz-Brown believes that politics exists in every workplace and phase of life, and one must be ready to learn how to navigate a career within the public school system. Basing her work upon current research in the fields of behavioral science, educational theory, and years of experience in the public school field, she writes to inform readers as to why the current school reforms will not be effective to decrease the poor high school graduation rates. Katz-Brown delivers her propositions with a bit of humor, sarcasm and irony in her book Climbing the Rock Wall – Surviving a Career in Public School Education.
This is a story of a young woman who, with her husband and her baby, made a brave decision in 1923 to travel from her country of origin, Hungary/Romania. She left her extended family behind to start a new life in America. Part of the story is based on a fictionalized account of Vilma Weisz’s early life, and part is based on authentic research by the author and her team of relatives. Vilma’s decision was a critical choice in her life and the lives of her future children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.