Stephen Wallis is a retired high school English teacher and Howard County school pricipal.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Federation of Shcool Administrators Distinguished Ledership Award, wheick cited him among "the top eight school prinicpals in the nation."  His publications include chapers in bookd byt The Heritage Foundation and The Calvert Insiture of Public Policy.  He was co-founder and predicent of the proposed Business Prepartory Institute, a charter high school for urban youths.  In this book "Dead last", he details his school's journey from failure to excellence, providing insights-perhaps an antidote- for struggling school communities throughout America.