Featuring the findings of a 5-year study on independent schools as well as stories by teachers and students of color, this book offers testimony by independent school faculty of color, including the individual stories of African American, Chinese American, Native American, Cuban American, and Hispanic American educators. It discusses how important a diverse teaching force is for creating a positive school culture for all students. After "Introduction: Answering the Call" (Pearl Rock Kane), six chapters include: (1) "The Need for Teachers of Color in Independent Schools" (Pearl Kane and Alfonso J. Orsini"; "The Silent Years" (Chad Cooper); and "Dirty Knees" (Shafia Zaloom); (2) "A Context for Understanding Faculty Diversity" (Alfonso J Orsini); "My Chance Encounter with Independent Schools" (Dennis Bisgaard); and "Gifts from the Great Spirit" (Melanie Sainz); (3) "Findings from a National Survey of Teachers of Color from Analysis of the NAIS Database" (Pearl Rock Kane and Alfonso J. Orsini); "Struggles and Rewards" (Reveta Bowers); and "Excess Baggage" (Alexis Wright); (4) "Best Practices: An Analysis of Teacher Diversity in Eleven New York City Independent Schools" (Kate Knopp, John Baldwin, John Barrengos, Dennis Bisgaard, Marc Bogursky, Sidney Bridges, Kathleen Brigham, Virginia Carnes, Tom Doar, Kecia Hayes, Tracy Knox, Jerry Loewen, Gary Niels, Kolia O'Connor, Cathleen Randall, Philip Kassen, Mark McLaughlin, Doug Norry, Jan Scott, Michael Simmonds, and John Yoo); "Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?" (Lisa Arrastia); and "How Did I End Up Here?" (Erik Resurreccion); (5) "Three Case Studies: The Wingate School, the Quaker School, and Heights Academy" (Dennis Bisgaard, Kate Knopp, Tracy Knox, Sidney Bridges, Kathleen Brigham, Gary Niels, Cathleen Randall, and Jerry Loewen); "The Journey of an Indian American Student and Teacher" (Pia Awal); and "Affirming Hispanic Co-Workers in a School Community" (Susana Epstein); and (6) "The Challenge of Diversifying Independent Schools" (Pearl Rock Kane and Alfonso J. Orsini). (Contains 91 references and index.) (SM)