Morton Sherman

Not many dads have the honor and joy of writing with their daughters; however, Mort and Sara's coauthoring of Resonant Minds reflects hundreds of hours working closely together, learning from each other, building on their shared love of music and each other.

Raised in a family in which his father did not graduate from high school, worked as an auto mechanic, and his mother was a nurse during WWII at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, Mort's exposure to music was limited to a few songs his parents sang with them. His dad loved singing at full volume the Marine Corps Hymn, reflecting his days as a Marine. And his mom often sang a song from her mother and WWI and perhaps one she heard as a nurse, "Just give my love to mother; She'll know how much I love her."

Yet, from this hard working family background a musical spark was ignited. Mort and Sara wonder about that spark and how it was passed on to children and grandchildren. Through the creation of their book, they are more committed than ever to create opportunities and connections with music as the ubiquitous lever for all of us to lead lives which bring us together as communities and help us as individuals lead better lives.

One of America's most distinguished educational leaders, with over four decades of transformative contributions to PreK-12 education, Mort is a veteran superintendent with 25 years of district leadership experience. Dr. Sherman led major urban and suburban school systems including Alexandria City Public Schools (Virginia), Cherry Hill Public Schools (New Jersey), and South Orangetown Central School District (New York).

As the former Senior Associate Executive Director at AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Dr. Sherman established several flagship leadership development initiatives, including the National Superintendent Certification Program, the Aspiring Superintendent Programs, and the Urban Superintendents Academy. These programs continue to support and inspire the next generation of educational leaders across the United States, reflecting his commitment to serving the whole child, elevating standards for all... what he calls raising the floor and blowing away the ceiling... and creating equitable learning environments for all students.

Mort's influence extends through his service on various boards and commissions, including continued service on leadership boards for The Goldie Hawn Foundation and past service on the Lincoln Center Institute Council. He has been recognized nationally for community service, strategic school district planning, advocacy for the arts, and creation of a network of districts committed to raising standards. Publications include over 500 articles and four books on topics including strategic planning, personalized learning, and mental fitness. His distinct perspective, shaped by experiences as a classroom teacher, principal, and superintendent, has left an indelible mark on educational policy and practice at the national level.