This session will draw parallels between the work of ASCD's Commission on the Whole Child and the preparation of teachers who themselves are "whole" and able to educate students holistically. It will connect whole teachers to the definition of a highly qualified teacher, as NCLB is reauthorized. The session will draw on the work of James Comer, child psychiatrist at Yale, whose School Development Program addresses the needs of underachieving students. Its integrated approach to learning relies on alliances among parents, educators, policymakers, and the community to strengthen the educational environment.