In December of 1996 Louise Butler made a presentation at the Global Summit on Science and Science Education in San Francisco. In it she out lined the four components required of students needing to beat the odds and the bell curve, and achieve the academic success that they deserve. Ms. Butler is an award-winning educator with a passion for both the art and science of teaching. Her writing is distinguished by its use of data-driven research couched in anecdotes and observations drawn from over 30 years as a trench fighter in the war against ignorance. She has fought this battle as a teacher, principal, and college professor. During these same years, her reputation for no-nonsense teaching and good writing awarded her Fellowships at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard, the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Missouri-Rolla, and an advanced degree at the University of Delaware. She is co-author of a science textbook, a fictionalized biography of Elizabeth I for young adults, and has written an editorial column on education issues. Louise Butler has made presentations to hundreds of people at dozens of conferences across the country, using a straight forward style to improve the content knowledge and delivery skills of classroom teachers. In her words: "If you want to fell good about yourself, if you want to hear someone say, "You're fine, I'm fine, all God's children are fine. Life is good, and all we need is love..." move on. If, on the other hand, you are worried, frustrated, angry or confused about education in American, you have come to the right place. I want you (not the schools, not the system, and not the politicians) to learn how your child can beat the odds, and the bell curve, and become the kind of student that no school can ignore." Beating the Bell Curve is a comprehensive look at learning. It provides information about the physiology of the brain, child-development, and educational theory. It talks about testing, nature vs. nurture debates, and the statistical bell curve. It takes the educational buzzwords that parents hear at their school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and in the media, and turns them into tools for improving their child's chances for success. Almost every parent wants to be the best parent they can. They see education as a means to wealth, power and respect for their child. Unfortunately, almost every parent is also worried about the ability of the public schools to provide that education. Parents who read, Beating the Bell Curve, will be able to recognize, judge and influence the decisions that will affect their child's academic success. This is the kind of straightforward reading that will be recommended by teachers, applauded at PTA conventions, and passed from parent to parent.