A Success Story in Public Education

"Old friend and colleague Carl Ackerman is a big man... the shirt size generous, the heart enormous, the mind copious and agile, the enthusiasm enough to power several major cities and all the ships at sea. The cheery voice, the warm regard and respect for all people, the impulse to see good done, the capacity to innovate, the eagerness to follow through; all these are immense as well. If Carl is in the room you know it-and you thank your lucky stars. Punahou School's wonderful PUEO program and the many worthy young people benefitting from it have long known such good fortune: years ago in a community... in a world... too short on equity, too bereft of opportunity, too impoverished of empathy, Carl saw a need and stepped up. The program he created and ran has made a very big difference, to many deserving young people and their families for whom undue struggle, frustration, even hopelessness, would seem inevitable. And so, it continues. Try to praise him, though, to give him even a little much-deserved credit, he'll chortle and deflect and change the subject. "C'mon, man," he'll imply, "there's still work to do. Let's talk about that." In the pages of this book, you'll meet some thoroughly admirable kids and learn their stories. With an innovative and comprehensive program in action, you'll see good intentions become effective results. You'll see intriguing models of management and cooperation. You'll see the fine and noble efforts of a very big man indeed." -David McCullough, Jr.