"Picky Parent Guide is The Dr. Spock of Elementary Education. The Hassels have left no stones unturned in addressing the critical intersection of child, family and school, and they have presented the material in a friendly, indexed, bite-sized format that makes Picky Parent Guide an invaluable reference. Parents, educators and school leaders will refer to this book time and time again."
—DR. LUCINDA LEE KATZ, Ph.D. (Child Development and Education), National Education Leader and Head of School
"As the son of a public school teacher, the father of four children educated in public schools, and someone who has spent over 30 years working to improve public education, I can say this book will be an invaluable guide for parents who are seeking what's best for their children."
—JAMES B. HUNT, JR., Former Governor of North Carolina
"Picky Parent Guide is phenomenal — just what parents need to stay calm and productive during the admissions process. I would consider the child of any family that has read and used this book an attractive candidate."
—JEFF ESCABAR, Director of Admission, Marin Country Day School
"There's not a parent in America who wouldn't benefit from the ideas and tools in Picky Parent Guide. If you have choices, this book will help you choose with confidence. If you don't, use this guide to press for the changes our nation needs -- more options and higher school quality for every child."
—HOWARD L. FULLER, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Education, Marquette University and Chair, Black Alliance for Educational Options
"This wonderful new book will help parents understand the many excellent options they have within the public education system."
—BART PETERSON, Mayor of Indianapolis
"Picky Parent Guide addresses a neglected part of the educational choice movement: parent education. Parents need a guide to the spectrum of options that confronts them, and this is it! I would like to give this to all our families."
—EMILY LAWSON, Founder and Executive Director, D.C. Preparatory Academy
"This excellent book will guide parents of academically gifted children in selecting appropriate educational options. The advice is on target and very appropriate."
—JAMES T. WEBB, Ph.D., Co-author of the award-winning Guiding the Gifted Child: A Practical Source for Parents and Teachers
"This is a first rate, practical guide for helping families match their children's needs with the right school. You'll learn everything from the secret ingredients of great schools to how to crack the mystery of securing a slot in the school of your choice."
—BRUNO V. MANNO, Ph.D., Senior Associate, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
"Confused about where to send your child to school? Take a look at Picky Parent Guide and you will soon be on the right track to choosing the school and teachers that meet your child's learning style and personality. This easy to read and comprehensive book is loaded with time tested wisdom and tools that are sure to help parents make the right decision. Very useful features include checklists, chapter summaries, charts, and "to do" lists."
—INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER HIGHLIGHTED TITLE
"My son was completely disinterested in his second grade class and it seemed more than a typical seven year old's dislike of school. He didn't want to go at all. After reading Picky Parent Guide I finally had the right questions to evaluate the situation. It seemed he was a poor fit with the classroom learning environment he was in. As a result I had him moved to a different classroom with the right teacher. Since then, his whole classroom learning experience has turned around. Now he's excited and challenged."
—STEVEN DONALDSON, Berkeley, CA
"A terrific and useful book that does not obsess over distinctions and labels about public and private but instead shows parents how to really get inside of all kinds of schools and make the right decisions for their children."
—ANDREW J. ROTHERHAM, Director, 21st Century Schools Project, Progressive Policy Institute
"Picky Parent Guide is a great tool for parents of preschool children. It can help transform what is often an overwhelming and anxiety-provoking process into a manageable and empowering experience that serves both parents and children throughout the elementary years."
—JACQUE GRILLO, Executive Director, Lone Mountain Children's Center, San Francisco
"I have a feeling that the Hassels will be keeping parents and schools on their toes for some time to come."
—TOM LOVELESS, Ph.D., Director, Brown Center on Education Policy, The Brookings Institution
"Picky Parent Guide is a tremendous resource for parents and school leaders alike. All parents should have this book by the time their kids are 3 years old, if not sooner. It provides thoughtful guidance so that parents have tools to match their children's strengths, needs and interests to the schools that will serve them best. It also helps school leaders better answer the questions posed by informed parents."
—JOHNATHAN WILLIAMS, Co-Founder and Co-Director, The Accelerated School, Los Angeles, The Time Magazine Elementary School of the Year 2001
"I love this book! Choosing a school is a very personal decision, and Picky Parent Guide will enable parents to make the best decisions possible for their children. In writing this book, Bryan and Emily Hassel have provided a real service for parents, children and schools."
—GAYNOR MCCOWN, Executive Director, The Teaching Commission
"Picking a school for a child is the single most important decision a parent can make. Picky Parent Guide provides well-written, common-sense advice that will help parents make better, more informed decisions. Your child deserves to have you read this book."
—THOMAS W. CARROLL, President, Foundation for Education Reform and Accountability, Founder, Brighter Choice Charter School in Albany, New York
"These tools eased our worries and helped us choose just the right school for our child and family. When our needs changed, we switched schools with confidence that we were making the right move."
—GRAY DUNAWAY, Mortgage Broker and Mother of Two
BRYAN C. HASSEL is Co-Director of Public Impact. A Rhodes Scholar, he is a nationally recognized expert on school choice and school reform who speaks frequently on these topics. He has advised leaders across the political spectrum, from city halls to the White House, on educational issues. He has organized and led national conferences. He has authored and edited dozens of books, articles, toolkits and other publications for schools, policymakers, and parents. President George W. Bush appointed him as one of 19 members of the PresidentÂ’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education. Bryan received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he attended as a Morehead Scholar. He earned his doctorate from Harvard University, where he concentrated his studies on education policy, and his masters from Oxford University.
EMILY AYSCUE HASSEL is Co-Director of Public Impact. Emily previously worked as a consultant and manager for an international human resources consulting firm, helping for-profit, non-profit and educational organizations to maximize the effectiveness of their employees. In addition to assisting parents with their school choices, she has authored publications on school leadership, professional development and selecting school designs. President ClintonÂ’s Secretary of Education chose to distribute her professional development toolkit, Learning From the Best, to all 15,000 U.S. school districts. Emily received her undergraduate degree in psychology and graduate degrees in law and business administration, all from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
BRYAN AND EMILY each attended both public and private schools. Between them, they personally experienced assigned public, magnet, neighborhood, traditional, open, single-sex, private day, and coeducational boarding schools, as well as at-home tutoring. They are also parents of two school-age children, one girl and one boy. Their children have attended both public and private schools. They have personal experience with the challenging process of selecting schools for their children in this era of burgeoning parental choice.
