Obama 's Educational Policy:Disposition of Authenticity or the Politics of the Emperor's New Clothes

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America resulted in a resurgence of hope for educators, desperately needed to counteract the deleterious effects of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) . Since the election, hope has dissipated as American educators have observed the contradictions between Obama's rhetoric of hope and authenticity and his policies and actions, including his appointment of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. The author, an immigrant, who has served as teacher, principal, superintendent, and now university professor, believes in the American Dream and remains hopeful that if President Obama's leadership is informed by courage and authenticity, hope will re-emerge