I have a number of information heroes/mentors. Most are not even aware that they are mentors since my connection with them is either through a workshop or perhaps their online or print presence. Some who come to mind are Candy Schwartz, Wes Fryer,David Warlick, Jim Moulton, and Joyce Valenza. Having said all of that and naming names, my thoughts today are mostly aboutWilliam Badke who has inspired and informed me through dozens of articles, his information literacy website, and his book, "Research Strategies: Finding your way through the information fog". As an academic librarian, Mr. Badke has a first hand view of the research skills of high school graduates. One of the reasons for his books and articles is to sound the alarm to librarians, school administrators, and K-12 educators that K-12 students need more comprehensive information literacy instruction prior to entering college. Another benefit of his writing is that he provides a road map to reach that goal. It is not enough, however, to provide that road map or to simply hire professionally trained library media specialists to manage our school libraries. There needs to be a school wide awareness of the need for information literacy instruction by these trained professionals. That commitment needs to be made from the top down. Boards and administrators need to mandate that information literacy instruction is integrated in the context of real research at every grade level and that information literacy competence is a graduation requirement. The results of a failure to do so is the equivalent of sending our students out to sea in a hurricane in a kayak with no paddle.