As a 20-something, Anthony "Tony" Smith had fulfilled one dream: playing professional football for the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. Next up, he thought, was law school, but a former mentor reminded him that he is a teacher. Smith never became a classroom teacher, but his background in sports--where he learned the power of teamwork and high expectations--comes in handy as he leads the Oakland Unified School District, a long-troubled system in one of California's most impoverished, violent cities. Smith never thought he was going to be a superintendent and it was never a career aspiration. However, he believes it is just an incredible opportunity to live the goals and values he has. Smith has spent the last 14 years working to help children, starting out at education focused nonprofit groups and then taking on his first superintendent's job--with no direct district experience--in 2004. Smith says he and his family--his wife and their two children, ages 6 and 8--are devoted to the school district for the long haul.