Mission Critical, by award-winning educator and writer Eric A. Combs, shares his experiences and frustrations from within the American public school system. He recounts riveting stories as a successful military Senior Non-Commissioned Officer who retires from the service and enters the challenging world of public education. Combs discovers a dangerously-broken system, barely held together by hard-working teachers, parents and administrators. These frustrated factions must work together, dealing with the constant ebb and flow of unpredictable political whims while, at the same time, providing a challenging and rewarding education for the leaders of tomorrow.