At Fullbrook Middle School teacher Matt Warner has always lived in the shadow of his late father who won the coveted Student Elected Teacher of the Year Award for 43 years. Matt becomes so obsessed with competing for the award with the new young dynamic and popular teacher Mr. D that he loses sight of what it means to be an educator. Determined to discredit Mr. D Matt follows him and finds he does have a secret but it is not what he expected and from that moment things begin to turn around for Matt as he learns a most valuable lesson.