At twenty-two, Dan Brown was an idealistic first-year elementary teacher at P.S. 85 in the Bronx. He was even assigned a class of his own: 4-217. What he wasn't told was that 4-217 was the dumping ground for all fourth-grade problem cases, and his students would be more challenging than he ever anticipated. Dedicated and passionate but facing volatile children struggling parents, and a failing administration, Dan was pushed to the limit time and again. Yet in this seeming chaos, he discovered an unexpected well of inspiration to discipline, teach, and make a difference. The Great Expectations School is the touching journey of Class 4-217 and their teacher, Mr.

Brown. But more than that, it is the revealing story of a broken educational system and all those struggling within and fighting against it. Book jacket.