Diane Ravitch has emerged as one of the most powerful forces for real education reform. She is a tireless crusader against the baseless claims that drive current educational policy and a clear-eyed visionary of what needs to be done. While at one time she left the educational community and then returned (both of which she addresses in this article) causing some to question the attention she garners as prodigal daughter of educational research, there is no denying the scholarship of her work and the contribution she continues to make. However, at 75 with the occasional health issue, she wonders how long she can fight the fight, and who will step up as the new leaders for the education of the nation's children.