This paper discusses who will teach American children in the current political environment. Americans consider education a top political priority. The conversation must be moved from campaign rhetoric to real dialogue about education's critical role and the readiness of all schools to help shape the nation. Major trends transforming society influence education, especially globalization, increased consumer power and demands, new worker roles and expectations, changing community demographics, increasing speed of change, technologically mediated learning environments, and radical transformation of the workplace. Future education will occur in nontraditional settings. Teachers need professional development to prepare for education that enables students to develop analytical, reasoning, organizational, and synthesizing skills for taking advantage of today's social, political, and economic opportunities. Education must appropriately handle increasingly diverse student populations and prepare a more diverse teacher pool. More effective strategies for attracting, recruiting, preparing, and retaining high quality teachers, counselors, and administrators are needed. To improve student performance, there must be greater attention to improving the classroom practice. All children and teachers must be educated to build and sustain a civil society predicated on bridging divides. The Holmes Partnership includes a critical component of the leadership needed to foster this dialogue. (Contains 24 references.) (SM)