The author first recognised the transformational power of education when he arrived at university. His career has included over 10 years as a mainstream principal, 7 as executive director of an agency that included being principal of a Special Assistance School, and a 5 year period in between in a leadership role in a community welfare organisation supporting clients with disabilities and mental health problems for which they were marginalised and devalued. He first encountered life in a special school when he was employed as a PE teacher in London in 1974. He admired the work of some great teachers then but it was 25 more years before he returned to a specialised environment. In this article, the author reflects on his 40 years in education. His most recent position as Executive Director of Dunlea Centre, Australia's original Boys' Town, enabled him to improve educational outcomes for disengaged youth. (Contains 1 table and 3 notes.)