Andrews is a devoted wife of 23 years, a loving mother of three children, and a Tipton County school teacher for grades 6-12 at the Teen Learning Center, a court school in Covington, Tenn. A curious epidemic of "pointing-fingeritis" among adults is sweeping the nation, allowing kids to abdicate responsibility.

Bell worked in the L.A. Unified School District for 14 years and now works for her pre-K and elementary school-aged sons in Pasadena, Calif. Closing the achievement gap once and for all might not happen overnight, but it needs to start happening now.

Bilash is one of only 78 federally trained child advocates in the country who says the only time her job feels like work is when she's away from her own kids in Philadelphia, Penn. The educational system should be responsive to each child's skills, so that every student gets the right to learn something every day.

Defranco is a soccer coach, a Girl Scout Troop leader, a mother of two, and a bully to bullies in her hometown of Palatine, Ill. Even if your kids go to a nice suburban school, your educational wish list can be very long.

After nine and a half years as a stay-at-home mom, Kuhlman returned to work as a teaching assistant and a reading advocate. Schools need to look out not only for the needs of her own children, but of every child that walks through their doors.

Weidle has held several positions in the Wake County, N.C. public school system – one that has garnered national attention recently for bitter protests over school assignments. A tornado is tearing through Wake County, kicking up dust around the needs of the children.

All statements and opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual contributors, and not of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or NBC News.