Testimonials
To the New York City Department of Education,
I am pleased to write this letter in support of Literacy Support Systems' application to the New York City Department of Education for a contract to provide professional development services in literacy education.
I have known Mimi Aronson and Artie Voigt, the directors of the organization, for twenty years, both through work in New York City schools and through their participation in national literacy organizations. I know them to be knowledgeable and supportive of teacher professionalism, as well as to be hubs in a network of literacy experts from around the country. I have learned much from both of them, and most of the excellent literacy educators in the Tri-State area would say the same.
I also know many of the consultants who work with this organization, such as Carl Anderson, Dorothy Barnhouse, Susan Stires, Vicki Vinton, Joanne Hindley, and Shelley Harwayne. These are the very people that my writing project here in Texas employs, even for single days, flying them across the country, in order to attempt to provide teachers here with access to the quality of professional development offered on a daily basis by Literacy Support Systems. This team represents some of those who were and are in the vanguard in the teaching of reading and writing for the past two decades. These are national figures, and I know they are, first and foremost, committed to improving instruction for students in New York City schools.
As I'm sure the Department of Education is already aware, Ms. Aronson and Mr. Voigt and their colleagues are both respectful of teachers and also insistent on high-quality instruction for children. They have an amazing ability to support teachers in thinking through the detailed modifications to classroom practice necessary for literacy achievement. I enthusiastically support their application.
Yours very sincerely,
Randy Bomer
Director, Heart of Texas Writing Project
Associate Professor
Language & Literacy Studies
Department of Curriculum & Instruction. The University of Texas at Austin
University Station. Austin, TX 78712- 512 232- 4861
I am pleased to write this letter in support of Literacy Support Systems' application to the New York City Department of Education for a contract to provide professional development services in literacy education.
I have known Mimi Aronson and Artie Voigt, the directors of the organization, for twenty years, both through work in New York City schools and through their participation in national literacy organizations. I know them to be knowledgeable and supportive of teacher professionalism, as well as to be hubs in a network of literacy experts from around the country. I have learned much from both of them, and most of the excellent literacy educators in the Tri-State area would say the same.
I also know many of the consultants who work with this organization, such as Carl Anderson, Dorothy Barnhouse, Susan Stires, Vicki Vinton, Joanne Hindley, and Shelley Harwayne. These are the very people that my writing project here in Texas employs, even for single days, flying them across the country, in order to attempt to provide teachers here with access to the quality of professional development offered on a daily basis by Literacy Support Systems. This team represents some of those who were and are in the vanguard in the teaching of reading and writing for the past two decades. These are national figures, and I know they are, first and foremost, committed to improving instruction for students in New York City schools.
As I'm sure the Department of Education is already aware, Ms. Aronson and Mr. Voigt and their colleagues are both respectful of teachers and also insistent on high-quality instruction for children. They have an amazing ability to support teachers in thinking through the detailed modifications to classroom practice necessary for literacy achievement. I enthusiastically support their application.
Yours very sincerely,
Randy Bomer
Director, Heart of Texas Writing Project
Associate Professor
Language & Literacy Studies
Department of Curriculum & Instruction. The University of Texas at Austin
University Station. Austin, TX 78712- 512 232- 4861
To Whom It May Concern,
We are third grade teachers at PS 89 and we have had the privilege of working with Mimi Aronson for the last three years. In that time she has worked in our classrooms to develop and improve the reader’s and writer’s workshop as well as develop professional development to help us support the students’ academic success.
In that short time we have noticed how our students work has progressively improved. Across the board, our students have developed better strategies and techniques for reading and writing which resulted in the increased enthusiasm towards literacy in general. Our “at risk” students who were once hesitant to write or were not creative in their work, all of a sudden found a new world to explore within their own writing.
Furthermore, we’ve seen how her program has generated excitement among our colleagues who have participated in it and who have tracked the progress of the students’ improvement over the last three years. Although hesitant in the beginning to change our teaching methods, Mimi’s dedication as well as the students’ success has made us really believe in and support this program wholeheartedly. As teachers we have been able to raise the academic level of our third grade students and better prepare them for the state exams. Moreover, our participation in the many literacy workshops she has put together has enhanced our skills as teachers and generated excitement and interest among other teachers who have not worked with her as yet.
Mimi Aronson is an invaluable asset to our school, and we are very excited to continue working with her.
Sincerely,
Jaime DeVaney & Stephanie Fortuna
We are third grade teachers at PS 89 and we have had the privilege of working with Mimi Aronson for the last three years. In that time she has worked in our classrooms to develop and improve the reader’s and writer’s workshop as well as develop professional development to help us support the students’ academic success.
In that short time we have noticed how our students work has progressively improved. Across the board, our students have developed better strategies and techniques for reading and writing which resulted in the increased enthusiasm towards literacy in general. Our “at risk” students who were once hesitant to write or were not creative in their work, all of a sudden found a new world to explore within their own writing.
Furthermore, we’ve seen how her program has generated excitement among our colleagues who have participated in it and who have tracked the progress of the students’ improvement over the last three years. Although hesitant in the beginning to change our teaching methods, Mimi’s dedication as well as the students’ success has made us really believe in and support this program wholeheartedly. As teachers we have been able to raise the academic level of our third grade students and better prepare them for the state exams. Moreover, our participation in the many literacy workshops she has put together has enhanced our skills as teachers and generated excitement and interest among other teachers who have not worked with her as yet.
Mimi Aronson is an invaluable asset to our school, and we are very excited to continue working with her.
Sincerely,
Jaime DeVaney & Stephanie Fortuna
To Whom it May Concern,
It is with great pleasure that I write this reference on behalf of Mimi Aronson. I have known and worked closely with Mimi over the past 10 years in my role an educational consultant for schools districts across the United States.
As an international literacy consultant, teacher, author and university lecturer, I have had the opportunity to work with thousands of educators in a career spanning over 25 years. During that time I have worked with a small core of educators that actually stand out in the crowd due to their exemplary leadership practices. Mimi is indeed one of these leaders.
Mimi possess an outstanding knowledge of curriculum. She is well versed in both past and current teaching and learning pedagogy.
I believe this to be an essential element for any educational consultant to possess when attempting to lead teachers to greater understandings of successful classroom practice. Mimi’s knowledge not only allows her to set high yet attainable expectations for the teachers she works with, but enables her to support her colleagues in their endeavors to achieve excellence. This support is visible by her willingness to engage in classroom demonstrations to show how to achieve specific curricula understandings. She is not one of those consultants who tells teachers what to do but rather shows them how to achieve success.
Mimi also impresses me with her strong leadership qualities and is not afraid to ask the hard questions and make decisions based on the greater good of all teachers, parents and children. So many consultants will simply go along with status quo regardless of its impact on children’s learning, whereas Mimi constantly strives to bring out the best in everyone and not let antiquated and ineffective practices dominate.
It has been a great pleasure to work with Mimi over the past 10 years as she has not only brought out the best in the schools she has worked with, but also in myself. Any district that is fortunate enough to have Mimi working with them should count themselves privileged to have acquired such an enlightened, committed and supportive educator.
Yours Sincerely
Tony Stead. Literacy Consultant and Author.
It is with great pleasure that I write this reference on behalf of Mimi Aronson. I have known and worked closely with Mimi over the past 10 years in my role an educational consultant for schools districts across the United States.
As an international literacy consultant, teacher, author and university lecturer, I have had the opportunity to work with thousands of educators in a career spanning over 25 years. During that time I have worked with a small core of educators that actually stand out in the crowd due to their exemplary leadership practices. Mimi is indeed one of these leaders.
Mimi possess an outstanding knowledge of curriculum. She is well versed in both past and current teaching and learning pedagogy.
I believe this to be an essential element for any educational consultant to possess when attempting to lead teachers to greater understandings of successful classroom practice. Mimi’s knowledge not only allows her to set high yet attainable expectations for the teachers she works with, but enables her to support her colleagues in their endeavors to achieve excellence. This support is visible by her willingness to engage in classroom demonstrations to show how to achieve specific curricula understandings. She is not one of those consultants who tells teachers what to do but rather shows them how to achieve success.
Mimi also impresses me with her strong leadership qualities and is not afraid to ask the hard questions and make decisions based on the greater good of all teachers, parents and children. So many consultants will simply go along with status quo regardless of its impact on children’s learning, whereas Mimi constantly strives to bring out the best in everyone and not let antiquated and ineffective practices dominate.
It has been a great pleasure to work with Mimi over the past 10 years as she has not only brought out the best in the schools she has worked with, but also in myself. Any district that is fortunate enough to have Mimi working with them should count themselves privileged to have acquired such an enlightened, committed and supportive educator.
Yours Sincerely
Tony Stead. Literacy Consultant and Author.
The Staten Island Foundation
To Whom It May Concern,
The Staten Island Foundation has worked with Literacy Support Services, Inc. (LSS) over the last 18 months. With Foundation support, LSS leaders Artie Voigt and Mimi Aronson, have organized and implemented a range of professional development programs to Staten Island public elementary school principals and faculty, including but not limited to providing expert speakers in literacy, conducting walk-throughs and inter-visitations, and establishing a principals’ network group. The feedback we have received regarding LSS has been positive and enthusiastic.
In addition, LSS has been helpful to The Staten Island Foundation by providing insights into the way schools work so that we might best design our education initiatives to meet schools needs and advance student achievement.
We have recommended them to other education professionals. Should you have any questions about The Staten Island Foundation’s work with LSS, we would be pleased to discuss it with you.
Elizabeth Dubovsky Executive Director,
To Whom It May Concern,
The Staten Island Foundation has worked with Literacy Support Services, Inc. (LSS) over the last 18 months. With Foundation support, LSS leaders Artie Voigt and Mimi Aronson, have organized and implemented a range of professional development programs to Staten Island public elementary school principals and faculty, including but not limited to providing expert speakers in literacy, conducting walk-throughs and inter-visitations, and establishing a principals’ network group. The feedback we have received regarding LSS has been positive and enthusiastic.
In addition, LSS has been helpful to The Staten Island Foundation by providing insights into the way schools work so that we might best design our education initiatives to meet schools needs and advance student achievement.
We have recommended them to other education professionals. Should you have any questions about The Staten Island Foundation’s work with LSS, we would be pleased to discuss it with you.
Elizabeth Dubovsky Executive Director,