Betsy Rogers, 2003 National Teacher of the Year, chose to go back into the trenches instead of staying on the lecture circuit. Rogers chose Brighton School, a K-8 campus of about 395 students, for her first year back on the job. She wants to show other good teachers an example of how they can make a difference for needy children in hard-to-staff schools. Unlike some of her former pupils during a 17-year career in the nearby town of Leeds, Alabama, every child here comes from a family of modest means. Many students struggle with reading, writing, and math. Some are learning to speak English. The school building itself needs a lot of work. Most teachers are overwhelmed by the problems many students have with schoolwork and the burdens of living in a poor neighborhood. As the nation's top teacher, chosen from among her fellow state teachers of the year, she was honored by President Bush two years ago in a White House ceremony, then toured the United States and even Japan during the 2003-2004 school year. When her stint in the limelight was up, she decided to return to the classroom--not become a superintendent or principal, or a consultant or full-time motivational speaker, a path chosen by some other high-profile award winners in education. Widowed with two grown sons and the caretaker for her aging parents, Rogers wanted to be where she feels most at home: the classroom.