Neurologist and middle school teacher Willis, frustrated by mandates handed down by "non-experts" who didn't know what she knew about how the brain works, developed strategies to rekindle the spark of learning and escape the rote nature of teaching to the test. By encouraging practice to create an accessible neural circuit, finding ways to capture students' attention, and asking thoughtful questions that will help them engage with the topic, Willis succeeded in engaging students and helping them to retain the knowledge presented.