Keith BallardKeith Ballard has taught music to thousands of public school students over the past 27 years. To reach middle schoolers in the southern tip of San Diego County, a couple miles from the Mexican border, he introduced mariachi and steel drum programs tht sparked performances on The Today Show and in front of two former U.S. presidents. Keith's efforts to infuse lessons about scales and chords with messages about self-esteem and the importance of academics helped him earn more than 25 teaching awards, including the 2003 Milken National Educator Award and 2017 Congressional Outstanding Educator Award.Keith's decade-long quest to study the world's best schools has landed him national TV appearances, a spot on the TEDx Talk stage and a YouTube channel with millions of views. Stealing from the World's Best Schools is his first book.Keith lives in a San Diego suburb with his wife and son, where he stays busy as a certified skydiver, snake wrangler and avid traveler. Read More Read Less