John McDermott sees every day why his Heinemann books The Just-Right Challenge and Clock Watchers (both coauthored with Stevi Quate) are so urgently needed. He consults in Colorado schools and is a site professor at large urban high schools in Denver, where teachers face unrelenting pressure to boost student performance - and where the ability to catch students' interest and hold it has proven essential to raising achievement. John has taught elementary through high school and has won an Excellence in Teaching Award as a professor at the University of Colorado Denver. As a consultant he facilitates workshops on team teaching, gifted education, and differentiation.