My mother was an English teacher who decided to become a math teacher, and she used me as a guinea pig at home. My father had been a math teacher and then went to work at a steel mill because, frankly, he could make more money doing that.

When you give of yourself, it's draining.

I wanted to find ways for colleges and universities to become involved with public schools to help young people prepare for college.

Computer games tend to be boys' games, warlike games with more violence. We have not spent enough time thinking through how to encourage more girls to be involved in computing before coming to college so they can see a possible career in information technology.

There is something exciting about being in an environment in which it's really cool to be smart.

Rich kids work hard. Most black kids aren't working hard enough.

It is part of the work of education to have substantive relationships with your students.