Thank you for your presentations to our staff members on Wednesday, November 9th. You did a wonderful job of relating the arts to literacy and of demonstrating how the arts can enhance literacy skills.

Indeed, you ideas, philosophy, and strategies were so inspiring that, based on our colleagues' requests, Dee [Mann] has formed a study group of nearly 20 staff members. Our goal, still in the planning stages, is for the group to meet at least monthly in addition to Dee offering demonstration lessons and other support; we're also hoping that prehaps we'll be able to have you come this summer for a week-long workshop.

Thanks again for enriching our teaching.

Your truly,

Robert Al Ginsberg, Principal

Johnson Park School, Princeton, NJ

Dear Sue,

I would like to take a moment to thank you again for all your hard work in setting up and facilitating your workshop "Weaving Children's Literature into Music and Art."

Your workshop was very well received! Your evaluations were very positive with domments such as, "the presenter offered a wealth of materials and ideas," "many ideas can be adapted to my classroom" and "great hands-on activities."

Thank you again for being part of our district's professional learning program.

Sincerely,

Gail Krois, Coordinator for Professional Learning, Milford Public Schools

"Sue,

Thank you so very much for all of the fun we had! May you be sheltered 'neath the wings of peace with a song forever in your heart. Thanks for leaving a part of your spirit in my room. . .Thank you for the inspiration and fun . . .You have such a talented gift to share with others . . .What you have learned and shared is wonderful. Your gift to lead to the 'water' is awesome. Thank you for the part of you you left with us, and expecailly what you left with me. . . What a fantastic week - You have been a gift to us . . .Thank you for you 'angelic wisdom,' your enthusiasm, energy, and enlightenment - Hope to see you again soon! . . .It is so nice to have some staff development where I leave with activities to incorporate into my classroom to improve student learning. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. . . What a fabulous week. Thank you for the inspiration and the fun, for sharing so much of you, we will never be the same, thank goodness!"

The teachers and staff of Sears Elementary School, Kenai, Alaska (Ten days of workshops including a weekend course, class demonstrations, a parent meeting, grade level conferences and individual consultations.)

State of Connecticut, Department of Education

Dear Dr. Snyder,

This is to thank you and Allison for the exciting professional development event held last spring for the Even Start Family Literacy staff. The feedback that I have received to date has been overwhelmingly positive. It is clear that your work in and knowledge of child development, along with your extensive training experience have resulted in the delivery of high quality professional development in the area of "Literacy Through the Arts."

In order for learning to be relevant for children, it is important that teachers learn "hands on" activities that focus on particular literacy skills. The session you developed for Even Start met all of the principles of quality professional development. It provided a wide range of "hands on" activities, along with key concepts that supported the activity. You and Allison were able to utilize research in a way that encouraged staff to develop new lines of thinking by suggesting multiple ways of presenting the material for families, and by giving concrete examples that staff could use to improve practice. In addition, because Even Start serves a diverse group of families, it is important that program staff be sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences. Your ability to incorporate sensitivity issues as part of the training was superb.

The purpose of Even Start is to provide intensive family literacy services that help break the cycle of peverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities of low-income families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education and parenting education into a unified family literacy program. Even Start is contained in Title I, Part B, Subpart 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as reauthorized and amended by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110). Program staff is charged with ensuring that each component of the program is delivered with highly qualified staff and uses instructional methods that are based on scientific research.

Again, thank you and Allison for developing a splended day of "Literacy Through the Arts" for us. I feel confident that the day resulted in new learning and understanding relative to the importance of the arts for both Infants and Toddlers and Preschool children. Your work is vital to opening doors for families to a lifetime of learning. Best wishes for a great year ahead.

Sincerely,

Gail Brooks-Lemkin, Even Start State Coordinator

Dear Sue,

On behalf of the entire staff of the Michael Cohen Group, I want to take this opportunity to thank you so much for all you did to help make the RTLP Evaluation Research Partners Meeting a success. Not only was your participation absolutely vital to the day's proceedings (your breakout session can certainly be credited with 'rallying the troops'), but your renergy, your drive, and your always-positive attitude stand exemplary. I know that I left our meeting inspired, revitalized, and ready to launch this project.

Suzanne Schneider

Operations & Field Director

MCG/RTLP Evaluation Team