The Truest Heart

Jayne Sbarboro wrote The Truest Heart because she saw the effects of bullying first hand. Sixteen years as a classroom teacher, time spent as an assistant principal (dealing with bullying on a daily basis), and another six years as an elementary school principal, Jayne watched the bullying process play out too many times. Too many students sat in her principal's office, in tears. And while she gave bullies consequences, bullying is often done undercover, out of sight of teacher or parent. She found that, more than anything, she wanted to give students a way to protect themselves. Every time she had a crying student in her office, she wanted to be able to give them a heart shield to defend themselves. The Truest Heart came from her desire to help students learn their strengths, and to use those strengths to protect themselves. Students need adult allies to help them identify their own strengths. And this is where the Companion book becomes an important tool.