The Business of Reforming American Schools

by Denise Gelberg

A critical look at the influence of the business community on the school reform movement, specifically how popular business management theories have been used as "tools" to produce a "workforce" for the 21st century.

329 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Denise Gelberg pivoted to writing fiction after a long career in teaching and research. Her first book, The "Business" of Reforming American Schools (SUNY Press) was based on her doctoral work at Cornell. As a meticulous researcher, the prospect of creating an entire world out of whole cloth seemed to verge on the impossible. But that's exactly what she did in her debut novel, FERTILITY, which tells the story of a sterile, workaholic attorney whose life is changed by a medical malpractice case. Her second novel, ENGAGEMENT, provides a window into the complexities of the Iraq War as seen through the eyes of a quixotic young second lieutenant and his far more dubious wife.

Call it a holdover from her researching days, Gelberg continues to do the legwork needed to get the facts right. Whether the story revolves around medical malpractice or military operations, her protagonists' trials mirror those of contemporary life.

Her latest book, Lucky Girl: A Novel, is based on the role luck plays in an individual's life, particularly how misfortune can sometimes lead a person down a better path.

Denise Gelberg is available to visit bookclubs, either virtually or in-person, if the distance from her Central NYS home isn't too great.

Readers can visit Denise Gelberg's Facebook page or her webpage - http://denisegelberg.forpr.net/. She can be followed on Twitter or contacted at denisegelberg@yahoo.com.