12th Grade Ready: Expert Advice to Help Parents Navigate the Year Ahead

“12th Grade Ready will help you get through the roadblocks seniors face every year, whether it’s writing college applications, asking for letters of recommendation, or shaking off a bad case of senioritis. The contributing authors also give practical advice to the parent whose graduate is going into the military, a trade school, or taking a gap year. Every parent will find something in this book to give their teen both the practical skills to make the most of their final year but, even more importantly, the gift of relishing every moment.”—Tom Akers, Superintendent of Cambridge Schools

“Being both an educator and parent of a rising 12th grade student, I can personally relate to this paradoxical moment as the best of times and an overwhelming time. This book will be life changing for so many families.”— Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon, Former Georgia State Director of Special Education

“12th Grade Ready isn’t about checking off boxes or micromanaging your child's every move during senior year—it’s about fostering a relationship of trust, respect, and mutual growth. Through poignant anecdotes and practical advice, Tim and his colleagues remind us that while senior year marks the end of one chapter, it’s also the beginning of an exciting new phase where parent-child dynamics evolve into adult-to-adult relationships.”—Jeffrey Maddox, Director of Human Resources, Worthington Schools, Ohio

This is an exciting year for your teen, as high school graduation is on the horizon, yet this realization can add another level to the anxiety and anticipation for their post–high school future. If you’re wondering how you can help your senior navigate this last year of high school, you’ll find loads of information in 12th Grade Ready useful to you and your student. Each contributor is a current or former high school teacher or administrator who has worked extensively with families of students. They have all been Teachers of the Year, finalists in their state, or otherwise recognized on the state level for their abilities in the classroom and high school environment.

12th Grade Ready includes:

• Expert advice on a wide range of topics, from academic expectations to emotional and social development.
• Preparations for post–secondary school plans.
• How to avoid senioritis and enjoy all the celebratory milestones of senior year.
• Conversation starters for you and your senior to open new lines of communication that can continue throughout the school year.
• Effective strategies to balance guidance and support with encouraging self-reliance.

12th Grade Ready is edited by Timothy M. Dove, who was the 2011 and 2012 Ohio State Teacher of the Year. He has also been an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University.

Contributors include:
Andrea Sachs, History Teacher and former College Counselor, Minnesota
Lorynn Guerrero, 2022 New Mexico State Teacher of the Year
Darryl Johnson, 2007 Missouri State Teacher of the Year and 2013 National Teachers Hall of Fame Inductee
Mary Lou Mendoza, High School Counselor, New Mexico
Shari Collins, Educational Consultant, Nebraska
Al Rabanera, High School Algebra Teacher, California
Antoine Sharpe, 2020 Department of Defense Teacher of the Year
Leron McAdoo, Educational Consultant, Arkansas
Amybeth Taylor, High School English Teacher, New Hampshire
Courtney Walker, 2024 GASSP Assistant Principal of the Year, Georgia
Casie Wise, EdD, High School English Teacher, Tennessee
Laura-Jeanne Penrod, 2024 Nevada State Teacher of the Year
Jessica Volker, South Dakota State Teacher of the Year Finalist

12th Grade Ready is one of a series of guides published by Parent Ready. Parent Ready’s guides help parents navigate the milestones, challenges, and passions of their adolescent and young adult kids. More at https://parentready.com.

Timothy M. Dove, an educator for 42 years, is the Ohio State Teacher of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Dove was a middle school teacher for 32 years and helped develop the Global Scholars Diploma program. He taught high schoolers for three years, was an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University for 20 years, and for the past decade has worked with state and national education agencies supporting educators and students in a variety of ways. He has been a consultant with Battelle for Kids in Hong Kong, Learning Forward, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center.