Primary Contact:    Kate Bandos / kate@ksbpromotions.com / (800) 304-3269

Award Winner--Twice
05/19/2006

ForeWord Magazine's GOLD Award in Education (tradebooks) for 2005 and Independent Publisher's IPPY award for Best Education Book of 2005 go to Front of the Class: How Tourette's Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen with Lisa Wysocky (VanderWyk & Burnham, 2005).

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From “Woop! Ja. . . ja . . . JA!” to Teacher of the Year
09/01/2005

Are the following lists describing two very different people?

List 1:

• Overactive . . . a show-off . . . out of control
  
• Innumerable incidents with teachers and classmates through elementary and junior high—even in Sunday school
  
• A strained relationship with his father
  
• Fired from his first job (busboy at a restaurant) even before he started
  
• Kicked out of restaurants, movie theaters, even his seat at the Olympics
  
• Rejection after rejection from potential employers when he began applying for work as a teacher

List 2:

• One of ten people elected from around the world to the BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) International Board
• President of fraternity & VP of the Interfraternal Council at Bradley University
  
• Georgia’s First Class Teacher of the Year
  
• Semifinalist for Ben & Jerry’s Citizen Cool Award for Community Service
  
• Trusted in position of “Homer,” mascot for the Atlanta Braves
  
• Raised record amounts of money for the American Cancer Society

No, not two different people, but one amazing young man—Brad Cohen. Why the discrepancy? Too many people’s misconceptions and reactions to someone with Tourette syndrome.

First exhibiting symptoms in the 1980s, Brad Cohen was ridiculed, mocked, beaten up, and shunned. And the twitches and noises—over which he has no control—only increased in number and intensity the more stress he felt. “Woop! Ja . . . ja . . . JA!”

Even today Brad is ejected from movie theaters and restaurants. Has it stopped him? Has he chosen to live a quiet, insulated existence? Not on your life.

In Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had (September 2005, VanderWyk & Burnham) Brad Cohen, with coauthor Lisa Wysocky, shares his story of personal challenges and unwavering determination. His ongoing struggle proves anyone can make their dreams come true.

Shining through the pages are some of the people who helped Brad believe in himself and never give up. At the top of the list are his mother and brother. Their daily love, support, and encouragement not only kept him going, but offered a safe refuge from the daily stress and constant embarrassment. Then, along the way, there were the junior high school principal who introduced Brad to the whole student body during an assembly, giving him time to explain Tourette’s to all his classmates and teachers at one time; the friends at BBYO who encouraged his growing involvement and welcomed his contributions; his college roommate and friends who turned a potential embarrassing situation at a college hangout into a campus-wide tolerance campaign; a forward-thinking principal who saw having Brad on the staff of teachers as an asset; and innumerable students and parents who now daily reinforce his commitment to being the best teacher he can be.

While it hasn’t been easy, Brad proves again and again the power of a positive attitude. Brad’s compelling story concludes with 23 motivational tips on living with a disability.

Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen with Lisa Wysocky, Foreword by Jim Eisenreich, is available at bookstores nationwide, online, or call 800-789-7916.

272 pages, ISBN 1-889242-24-1, $22.95 hardcover
Photo Section, Appendix: Thoughts on Living with Tourette Syndrome and Other Disabilities, Resources, Index
Published by VanderWyk & Burnham (www.VandB.com)
Distributed by National Book Network, Inc. (NBN)

For more information contact Kate Bandos at KSB Promotions, 800-304-3269 or 616-676-0758, kate@ksbpromotions.

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