The intent of No Child Left Behind is to close the achievement gap. However, in this article, the authors point out, the teachers working with the students who have the farthest to go also have the fewest resources and the poorest working conditions. Districs across the San Francisco Bay area and the nation are slashing budgets, teachers, and resources. While these cuts will affect all students and teachers, it has been predicted that those teachers who already lack essential professional resources and their students will be the hardest hit. This point becomes most salient when looking closely at the real-life experiences of two local Bay Area educators. Matt McLean and Sarah Gill both have master's degrees in education, California teaching credentials, and four years of teaching experience in our public schools. They are both dedicated professionals who are committed to their students. Matt teaches the seventh and eighth grades, and Sarah teaches first grade. Matt teaches in the community of Alamo, and Sarah works in the Fruitvale district of Oakland. In this article both of these teachers are looked at and examined in relation to the intent of the No Child Left Behind Act.