What aha! Process Participants Have To Say

What aha! Process Participants Have To Say

Read what other participants have had to say about their experiences with aha! Process, Inc.

Below is just a sampling of the many emails and letters we receive through the year. Let us hear about your aha! Moment.

Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, Allen Independent School District, Allen, Texas

"Our work with aha! Process has been integral in the success of students in Allen ISD. Understanding students from poverty and learning strategies for working with them is now a foundational piece of the learning of Allen ISD staff.”

Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor, South Bend, Indiana

"The Bridges Out of Poverty program in South Bend and St. Joseph County has served as a catalyst to bring together social service agencies, government, institutions and businesses to form partnerships that we had envisioned but never before achieved. People with different backgrounds and political leanings found common ground and mission. Most importantly, individuals who have experienced generational poverty are enriching the discussion as we learn from each other. This is critical to the success of the initiative. One of the aspects of Bridges that I find most effective is the feedback loops that allow for continual review and improvement. This book shows the growth and refinement of the Bridges effort, which has kept it fresh and effective."

Lyn Bair, Principal, Bridges High School, Carbondale, CO

"After I attended an aha! Process workshop in Denver in September I brought my teacher leadership team to Houston for the URL Summit. We found many of the strategies we learned there to be so helpful that we have expanded their use beyond just students who are struggling. We now even use the student resource questions as part of our new student registration materials and then match student needs with the resources that the teachers/advisors can support and deliver."

Clinton Moore, Director of Family Services Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Boulder, Colorado

"Through my work with Habitat for Humanity, I have never come across a more comprehensive curriculum that goes … beyond informing and teaching individuals. We use this curriculum to empower community volunteers to partner with our families who are on a journey out of poverty. This model allows our community to partner with our families to transform their lives. Every Habitat affiliate should incorporate this powerful tool into its family process."

Vickie Tisdale, Administrator, Lansing, MI

"Our entire staff did a book study on the Framework for Understanding Poverty book. It has changed the way we relate to our very diverse population of students and parents. It has been an amazing experience for us all and one I would highly recommend to all schools - especially those that work with a diverse population."

Ada Gerard, Campus President, Heald College, Rancho Cordova, CA

"The concepts from Framework were taught by Bethanie Tucker to many of our faculty and administrators last spring. Those concepts, combined with increased student services advisors and program directors, community outreach, faculty involvement and a lot of hard work, resulted in our annual attrition rate going from 6% to 4.3% last year. After all, it does take a village."

Tammy B. Schoonover, ACSW, LSW, Director of Training Bucks County Opportunity Council, Inc. Doylestown, Pennsylvania

"The Bridges Out of Poverty training informs and enhances our Council’s mission and equips staff and community with the best understanding of how to assist low-income people to facilitate responsible, self-directed decision making, planning, and ultimately self-sufficiency. After reviewing literally hundreds of tools, we believe that Getting Ahead and Bridges out of Poverty are significant additions to our long-term work to help people permanently leave poverty."

Rosa Leonard, Reading Specialist Eastern Middle School

"Reyna is a 13-year-old female from El Salvador. She came to this country in August 2006. Reyna had never attended school in El Salvador and speaks only Spanish. She was placed in sixth grade because of her age. She was placed in our METS program, which is designed for students who have experienced interrupted schooling in their native country. Most of these students could read at least on a second-grade level in their native language. Reyna was totally illiterate. She did not know how to write, she didn’t recognize her name when written, and she didn’t know the difference between a number and a letter." Read more.

Pete Gerkin, County Commissioner, Lucas County, OH

"As County Commissioner, it’s my job to make sure that people in poverty have access to the resources they need and our policies aren’t holding anyone back. By implementing Bridges Out of Poverty, we’ve given our front-line staff the knowledge and the empathy to work with people in poverty effectively. With over 200 Getting Ahead graduates, we’ve shown that people in poverty are ready to take control of their lives as long as the community is there to support them. I’m proud that Lucas County is working everyday to end poverty in every part of our community."

Lenisha Broadway, Principal, Ridgeroad Charter Middle School, AR

"We received our state test scores, and our students who were at 30% literacy are now at 50%, which is a 20-point gain in a year (2006-2007). In math, our students gained 9 percentage points. Thanks to aha! Process and the strategies they’ve been giving us over the years. We have made significant gains."

Carla Jackson, Principal, Grove Park Elementary & Middle School, MD

"I highly recommend the “Boys in Crisis” DVD. Our staff has been able to utilize a variety of strategies to include:

Providing space, stress ball, breathing techniques, and water to reduce incidence of inappropriate behaviors
Providing shame free zones
Implementing listening strategies that eliminate confrontation between the teacher and the student
Providing a list of feeling vocabulary that our boys can use to describe their feelings/emotions instead of acting them out

In addition, I have provided parents with strategies that they can use prior to implementing a medication intervention for student who may have ADHD has been helpful.

I find Dr. Slocumb’s advice both relevant and timely! It is good to know that principals/schools have a resource available to help teachers and parents help their boys become successful in school as well as life."

Dr. Wynona Winn, superintendent 2000-2007, Hutchinson, KS

"All achievement scores have gone up. Students who come from homes of poverty are closing that achievement gap. So not only are they catching up with their peers, but as all our test scores go up exponentially, they are right there with them." Read more about the Payne School Improvement Model.

Rose Merrell, paraprofessional, Bald Knob AR Elementary School, AR

"I attended the Tucker Signing Strategies for Reading workshop last summer. Our school year just ended and I had to just brag on how much our kids learned this year by using you signing method.

By the end of the school year they had learned 60 words compared to only 10 or 15 words the year before. It helped with their self-esteem and gave them great confidence to want to learn more and more. I can not say enough great things about Tucker Signing. I just want to THANK YOU!!"

Mary Gruza, Getting Ahead participant, MI

"The Getting Ahead material, along with a great program like the Family Success Model, is unlike anything I have ever encountered. It really does help and it helps because you have to do the work, it’s not done for you. You figure out what you need to do, and how you need to do it, and then you do it.

The book and the program are just your tools to use. They are not the hands behind the tools doing all the work. The hammer may have the force behind it to put that nail in the wall, but it has to be your arm swinging it giving it its force."

Lorrie E. Thompson, PAC Facilitator 5/6 Buffett Magnet Middle School, Omaha, NE

"I just finished the two-day workshop that Ms. Payne put on in Omaha and I feel completely revitalized! I enjoyed her presentation and her stories—it was as if she knew the children I work with. Please pass this on to her and let her know what a big impact she has made, just one day back to school and I feel so much better equipped in my mediation and management skills. Outstanding!"

Mitzi McAfee, principal, Jackson Roosevelt Elementary Port Lavaca, Texas

"I had every principal in our district play the Classroom SIM demo. It was so much fun! I think it’s going to be wonderful for my teachers."

Jamie Stanley, The Community Partnership, Toledo, Ohio

"Here is an update on our 12 Getting Ahead graduates: 5 completed the State Tested Nurses Aide (STNA) Program, 1 passed and received her GED and is now looking to start a cleaning business, and 1 enrolled at Lourdes College for Social Work (situational poverty).

This group is experiencing success because they are incorporating Getting Ahead into a long term program. They have been meeting for 9 months and are working as a support system to each other as they make “The Group” an integral part of their daily living. They meet every week on Thursday from 6-8pm and are accountable to each other for making progress."

Robert Heimbaugh, K-5 Principal, Sherdan County School District, Ranchester, WY

"We don't know what we don't know. Ruby Payne provides us with the knowledge we are missing about working with students."

Donald J. Murphy, Sheriff, Torrington, Wyoming

"Understanding Class for Law Enforcement training has proven invaluable to provide deputies the ability to appreciate cultural differences. We have used this information to develop solutions for our local policing problems."

Bryan Morehouse, Captain and Training Officer, Sheriff’s Office, Torrington, Wyoming

"As a training officer, I have heard my deputies’ comment on the improvement in their communication skills and their ability to relate more positively with those we serve in our community because of the Understanding Class for Law Enforcement training."

Cecil Floyd, Executive Director, Texas Middle School Association, TX

"We are very excited that Ruby Payne will be one of our keynote presenters at TMSA 2008. Our membership will benefit from her insights."

Charlie Jehler, Teacher, Central Middle School, TX

"Ruby Payne has been very influential in helping teachers understand the changing environment in the classroom. The needs of the students have changed from 10 years ago. We must change our teaching style."

Lynn Pogue, Assistant Principal, Clark Middle School, TX

"I will use the SIM 6-8 in our mentoring program to give my teachers a multi-sensory experience of being in a classroom before being in the classroom. It is fun, innovative, and an interesting way to give new teachers classroom management experience before the first day of school."

Brenda Boulais, Title I Resource Teacher, Indiana

A number of research studies have confirmed multiple benefits of teaching sign language to infants and children, including:

less frustration for infants trying to make their needs known
increased eye contact between children and care givers, and
improved comprehension skills when reading.

Companies such as those that wrote Baby Signs, Baby Einstein, and others have developed programs based on these research findings.

“Reading by Age 5” combines the benefits of sign language for communication purposes with “Tucker Signing Strategies for Reading .” After learning to sign phrases such as "I love you," "I am proud of you," and "Good job," students as young as three years of age are ready to use the Tucker signs to learn the sounds associated with letters and to blend those sounds to make words. The transition from one sign language to the other is fast and easy, and the learning is fun."

Mary Woodward, Artist and Getting Ahead graduate, Ohio

“I was driven to push forward with my art endeavor by some of the things we covered in the Getting Ahead class, and I continue to use the information in helping me plan and organize. Thanks for that and for writing a great book and providing our community with such a great class!"

Fannie Carr, Getting Ahead graduate, South Bend, Indiana

“We all must set our insecurities aside and believe that we all have he ability to make the necessary changes in our lives enabling us to be an inspiration to all children... It is easy to settle for living in poverty, but the time has come that we stand up and be noticed.”

Chief David Wigley, Department of Juvenile and Adult Probation Officers

Several years back, an adult probationer walked into my office. I’d been his principal in school and had known him all his life. Wayne didn’t just grow up poor…he grew up African American and poor in rural West Texas…and that is poor indeed.

He’d brought something with him. He said, “Mr. Wigley, you ought to read this book.” He handed me this little red book written by Ruby Payne called, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty.”

After Wayne left I set it aside. But then there came the day that something compelled me to actually pick up that little red book Wayne had left.

All I know is that for the first time in the more than 20 years that I’ve been Chief, I went to my entire staff…two people…and I said, “You gotta read this book!”

Kendra S. Franklin, Chairperson, Math Department, Hartman Middle School, Texas

Throughout the school year, Ms. Shelly Rex and Ms. Czarnik, worked closely with the Math teachers, teaching us different strategies to improve and increase learning. We were introduced to Ruby Payne’s Learning Structures and shown how it would benefit us. We began immediate implementations and saw immediate positive results. We developed a uniform problem solving plan called “RIDS’ which we employed this school year and will use in coming years. She focused in on our needs and those objectives we were struggling with. As a result, she designed and tailored a plan of action to address specific problems and frustrations we encountered. Ms Rex brought to us valuable test-taking tips which we put into effect during this year’s TAKs tests. As a result our Math TAKs scores showed tremendous growth. It is my opinion, that without the assistance of KAF and their inclusion of our teachers in the planning process, we would not have been able to attain this success.

The Math Department at Hartman Middle School would like to continue working with KAF during the second year of our three year plan as we continue to strive for excellence. This year has been the beginning of what we hope will become an ongoing working relationship with KAF, as we continue to make steady and significant gains in our instructional skills and methodologies through the knowledge and expertise of Ruby Payne.

Lloyd Pendleton, Director, Homeless Task Force, State of Utah, Department of Community and Culture

"As I have reread the Bridges [Out of Poverty] book for the third time I want to thank you for the great work in helping to put this material together in such a readable format and then committing to travel so extensively getting it implemented. That is not easy and is requires much energy, it is more than just making money. aha! Process is changing how those in poverty can be better assisted by helping the middle class rethink our approaches. I think of it as being some what analogous to Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his approach to assist the very poor in Bangladesh with the Grameen Bank. As you may be aware, he starting loaning money to women using only social collateral and it now has gone worldwide. I realize BOP works best in developed countries but has the potential to make a significant difference. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING!"

Quotes from Participants at a Getting Ahead workshop offered by Starfish Family Services

“Getting Ahead made me realize where I am and that I don’t want to be a poor person”
“It was all about reality checks---makes you think”
“Getting Ahead has been a very good thing---we supported each other and the encouragement helps a lot”
“I didn’t want to come at first, then I realized I’m not the only one with a shut-off notice”
“I didn’t feel like anyone was judging me because other people were in a similar situation”
“Getting Ahead was something to look forward to because everyone knows what we’re going through”
“Getting Ahead helped me to think of a plan, write it out and then follow it in the time frame we set”
“Now I know what I never knew I didn’t know.”

Participant at Framework Trainer Certificationm Santa Fe, NM, 2006

I just wanted to share with you and Ruby the excitement that has returned to St. Lucie County. Our group has been in and out of our office all week sharing their stories from the week with you in Santa Fe. They are so excited to get back to school and share with their staff. Our superintendent has said he wants all teachers, bus drivers, and support staff to go thought the framework. We in our office of professional development believed that if we could get a trainer at each school site this would get us there faster. While the real benefit will be to have a valuable resource and "Ruby Payne wannabee" at each school site.

I can honestly report that we have received more than we paid for by the enthusiasm that has been brought back from Santa Fe. Thank you for taking such good care of our group. A teacher came into my office today and said to me she wish she had been to this training 30 years ago. She has a new energy she hasn't had in years and feels empowered to become a teacher leader at her school. She believes her new tools will impact student achievement this year.

I will be sure to keep in touch with you of any results along the way. I would also like to share that our superintendent spoke with Ruby at a conference this year and would also like to begin strategically thinking about bringing this into our community. Our School Board has even begun to talk about trying to create a round table group of community agencies and support groups to assist and help with this work. We look forward to continuing our work with aha! Process, Inc.

Attendee at the Houston Trainer Certification, April 24, 2006

“It [Framework] is part of the daily ‘language’ of our building – the ‘glasses’ through which we view our children.”

Declines in Discipline Referrals reported by Certified “Framework” Trainers

Every teacher and administrator wants to help kids learn more. That is why we are in the business of education. However, time spent on inappropriate student behavior and subsequent discipline referrals takes us away from our educational pursuits.

In May 2006, aha! Process, Inc. conducted a short survey about student discipline among its’ Certified “Framework” Trainers. With responses from 1,104 professional educators from 43 US states and 3 foreign countries, we learned that the Discipline Interventions outlined in Chapter 7 of “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” are effective within the school system. Among the respondents who put the Discipline Interventions into practice, 98.7% found them effective.

Cheryl Miceli, Cicero PSD99, Illinois

"I would like to let you how much I have LOVED using the Tucker Signing Strategies language system. [in our summer session for special needs students]. For the first time ever, all my students received a 100% on their "All You Can Spell" buffet. That has never happened in the two years I've been doing the buffets, and I am very certain that the Tucker signing has helped the students greatly. I can't wait to use the system in the fall."

Susan E. Gabriel, CDFI, Master Trainer, Rockville, MD

Dear Ruby,

We are overwhelmed by your generosity to provide Goodwill with your book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty for our CDF Training. Your work has made a significant contribution to helping our staff understand, appreciate and support the people that we work with on a daily basis. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I thought I would let you see some of the folks that are using your books. This is a class from our Albuquerque Goodwill. Your books have also been distributed to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Great Falls, Montana. And there are many more classes to come.

"On behalf of all the staff at Goodwill Industries International, THANK YOU!"

Susan E. Gabriel, CDFI, Master Trainer
CDF Training Specialist
GII Member Services Center
15810 Indianola Drive
Rockville, MD 20855
Tele: 800-741-0197 ext. 5220
Fax: 301-530-1516
TDD: 301-530-9759

Dr. Samuel Betances, Sr. Diversity Consultant, Chicago, IL

"Ruby Payne, through her training and products, provides useful strategies to all educators and support networks who want to see students from poverty excel in a middle-class place called school.

I sing her praises wherever I go."

Edward L. Lynch, Vice President, Board of Trustees Meridian Public Schools, Meridian, Mississippi

"I am impressed by A Framework For Understanding Poverty, because it addresses issues head-on that most individuals from middle class backgrounds never stop to consider. This framework deals with the issue of poverty in a manner that strikes at the heart of the matter; it is not an issue of race. It explains how and why poverty crosses all racial and or ethnic boundaries. This is especially important in today's world, because the majority of our public school students are from an economically-deprived background while the institutions of learning are based upon middle class values. Most importantly this framework is simple and easy to understand."

Maggie McCarthy, Rapoport Foundation

"Few people have the ability to innovate, animate and elevate in the context of storytelling, yet Ruby Payne does just that. After a speech to my foundation colleagues, I could tell that the audience was intellectually provoked and abuzz in chatter about the subject. Mind you, grant makers can be a tough crowd - they have heard virtually every pitch for every condition known to man. Ruby Payne broke through the clutter of conventional "fixes" and wryly uses humor to get to their cerebellum. We are in debt for her wit and wisdom."

Maria Branch-Resource Support, Antelope Valley Regional Occupational Programs

"After today's workshop, A Framework For Understanding Poverty, Freta Parkes has renewed my vigor to help our students! She shared many insights on how to reach this at-risk group with pointed examples of; respect, encouragement, and SOLUTIONS to tough situations. I highly recommend this workshop."

Alejandro Saravia, Western Kentucky University, KY

"You might smile at this comment or post it in your website--Now I can divide my life in two: before I read Dr. Ruby Payne and after I read her. I will never perceive poverty the same way nor I will deal with poor people the same way."

"I also want to thank you for the insight you have triggered in the way I see poverty now. Although I had seen much deeper poverty in my country of origin, my beloved Mexico, it wasn't until now that I understand that there is a pattern and a system that perpetrates (and perpetuates) this condition. A very unfortunate belief some middle- class Mexicans share is that poor people are so because it has been their decision."

Nicholas Longo, San Bernardino, CA

"We just wanted to let you know that we have trained hundreds of San Bernardino County employess so far and will train hundreds more by mid-December. We are producing many aha! moments in our county and loving every minute of it. We feel that the training we have developed using your material is second to none and just wanted to let you know that we are putting your training to good use and changing lives every day."

Roger Hermann, Radford University, VA

"In preparation for a Seminar course on teaching in the urban and rural environment, I read your Framework book, the assigned course text. What a revelation! This text should be required reading for every high school and college student who may ever be expected to occupy a position of authority or leadership, not just educators and social workers. If I and many of today's middle managers had this information, I truly believe we would not be experiencing the problems that we face in our nation today. I look forward to someday attending one of your seminars. [I am a 59 year-old graduate student working on a masters in Special Education, after using my MBA and English degree in industry for 25 years.]"

Rumell Lomack, Quincy, IN.

"This workshop was extraordinary. It opened my eyes even wider about where the children are in their thinking and reasoning ability. I very much appreciated the solutions, adaptability and the various activities that can be used to enhance, promote, and give purpose for children's learning and learning structures. Dr. Ruby Payne's wealth of knowledge, observation and research is phenomenal and needed in our society today."

Clark Brownlee, Chair 50th Anniversary Committee, & Rudy Ambtman, Ph.D., Director, Child Guidance Clinic of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

"In our many years of experience, including planning several conferences and many workshops, we have never had more positive feedback about a speaker than what we've received regarding your presentation on April 18. [2002]. Our colleagues are still talking about how useful they find your material and insight. The evaluation forms were unanimously at the #7 [top] level."

"Thank you for sharing from your rich store of wisdom, knowledge, humour and skill."

Anne Graham, LD Teacher, Tzouanakis Intermediate School, IN

"I have never found a program [Tucker Signing Strategy] that benefits the learning disabled children I work with as this program has. Jack (name changed) was most phenomenal." He is a fifth grader who came to me at a pre-primer reading level at the beginning of the school year, and is now reading words from 1,2nd and 3rd grade lists at the end of the school year. [... } He is telling ME new words that we can sign in class and teaching this strategy to his mother and older brother at home. "I am now so grateful I was included in this workshop."

Linda Moore, Principal, Okmulgee Primary School, OK

"What a joy it was having Dr. Tucker here for the faculty in-service. My teachers experienced immediate success as they began implementing her strategies with their children the very day. Dr Tucker's is a valuable addition to your already outstanding programs for educators."

Barbara McClure-Lukens, Continuing Professional Education, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI

"What a pleasure it was to meet you [Ruby Payne} and to see firsthand your dynamic conference leadership skills. Your recent presentation of A Framework for Understanding Poverty definitely met the expectations of the 300+ human service professionals who participated in the full day session. You maintained their interest and engagement for the entire day, a testament to the power for the information you presented."

(93% of the participants said they would use this information in their decision-making)

Just when I was about to give up - you tossed me some new bones. Thank you.
Presenter was great! What useful information, this was very eye opening.
Thank you for sharing your life's work with us to use with those we work with. I feel I can put myself in my client's shoes now and be more helpful.
What a great teacher! One of the best sessions I've ever been too.
Excellent presentation - eye opening - will be able to open communications and deal more effectively with my clients.
This was excellent! I could have listened to her for many more hours.

Allison Nichols, West Virginia University Extension Service, WV

"We had a very positive response. I have never seen such glowing remarks about a speaker."

I will present this information to staff and colleagues for immediate use and for research to validate our Title I School-wide project.
I plan to incorporate the ideas of the concept of hidden rules into the next staff meeting.
I plan to integrate materials into family centered training for early childhood/EHS/early intervention.
I will be doing an In-service for teachers-particularly in the school with the highest free/reduced lunch program.
Absolutely plan on briefing my faculty.
I will approach my parents of my children differently.

Bridget Chicoine, Asst. Superintendent, Redding School District, CA

"Redding School District recently sent a team of 10 to the Understanding Poverty conference in Galveston. We would like to tell you that without exception we felt this was one of the most beneficial conferences we have ever attended. Each of us went home with wonderful tools to help us deal with the poverty in our community."

"We will be using so many of the ideas that we learned at your conference in our mission for the Safe Students/Healthy Students grant we received for the next three years. I think every new teacher should be trained in this program. It is one of those things that we wish we knew then, what we know now.'"

Wanda Ganas, Principal. Valdosta, GA

"I enjoyed your [Tucker Signing Strategies for Reading] workshop immensely, and my teachers have already put your strategies into action! I have also heard from administrators around our system about the excitement of their teachers who attended your workshop. [One] principal, from another system in our RESA district, [called my colleague] to tell her his teachers were in tears (happy tears, that is!) over the progress their students had made in reading as a result of your signing strategies."

"Thanks again for your efforts in improving reading instruction and for finding just the missing link we needed! Bethanie, you are truly a leader among teachers of whom we can all be proud! I commend you for a job well done!"

Bill Owens, Governor, State of Colorado

"Thank you for participating at my education summit, A Colorado Conversation with Education Leaders last weekend. [3/17/01] Your valuable insights into the challenges facing improving schools contributed greatly to the conversation and helped stress that a quality education is possible for all children."

Tom Hicks, Brooklyn Park, MN

"I just attended my first seminar presented by Ruby Payne. It was extraordinary! I will be able to start tomorrow using the techniques I learned today. The teachers in our district were raving about Ruby Payne. But until I attended the poverty workshop myself, I had no idea how powerful her messages were. The research, the stories, the practical techniques all came together in this positive, productive program."

Sue Rainey, Marietta, GA

"This is far and away the most meaningful program for dealing with all students in today's society. RFT [now aha! Process, Inc.] validates what we have always known, but most importantly, solutions are provided so that we can finally teach all of today's children."

Jeff Craig, New York State Middle School Assoc., Rochester, NY

"As I listened to Ruby's message I couldn't help but replay recent interactions with children and adults in my mind – what I didn't understand then and how I can act differently next time. I will do better next time."

Stephanie Graham, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Los Angeles, CA

The rave reviews of the two-day workshop just keep coming. Enclosed are just some of the more specific and descriptive comments from the evaluations we collected:

"Well done..best inservice I've attended in many years. Enjoyed watching an analytical mind at work."
"I gained a wealth of knowledge and a structure to put it in. You speak in metaphors which I find very powerful, as well as giving concrete examples."
"I will use the data gathered and information learned to support and increase student achievement at my school and share throughout the district."
"I had an aha! How little I knew about the culture of poverty! I thought I knew quite a bit."
"This presentation changed the way I view my own perspective regarding poverty and the effecs it has on the children I work with. All this time I thought I was being sensitive to my students' needs - I was wrong. I will change how I deal with and what my expectation are. Ruby was delightful and informative."
"I valued ideas that have merit to be used immediately for helping teachers and staff move toward getting higher test scores. I loved Ruby's manner of presentation, using stories and humor to validate her ideas."
"Thank you for the delightful way you present sensitive materials. You maintain respect and dignity for all groups."
"You truly are an accomplished speaker! You have such valuable info to share and are able to make it so enjoyable to the audience."
"I valued all the statistical data on poverty and strategies we can use to raise achievement for children in poverty."
"I valued the information, the objectivity, and insight to the culture of poverty. I feel this framework can be applied to all cultures."
"Thank you Ruby, for two days of eye-opening information. I appreciated your humor and candid presentation."

Sally Tucker, Bloomington Public Schools Curriculum & Instruction Office, Bloomington, IL

"The most successful thing that we have done is to hold "Ruby Reunions." The trainers from our district met three times last year, (fall, spring, summer), and shared successes/problems/questions with one another. We have focused on "what works" and "what we have tried." It has been amazing to see the cross-pollination of ideas. For example, we have one Grade 5 teacher who has done a tremendous amount of work with her students in goal setting with great results. Her experience has translated to other teachers in other buildings with similar results. [...}

We couldn't be happier with our staff development in and use of Ruby's research and strategies. She has made a difference in Bloomington.

Christine Hart, Jackson-Madison County Schools, Jackson, TN

"It would have been very beneficial to my students if I had received this quality of training before starting my teaching career. Excellent strategies and research items presented caused a positive change in my thinking about people in poverty."

Aaron Green, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, Cedar Rapids, IA

"Practical, relevant, and very helpful in serving the needs of all students."

Shawn E. Greiner, Fayette County School Corp., Connersville, IN

Aaron Green, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, Cedar Rapids, IA

"Excellent program with lots of ideas that will work to promote excellence in education for all children!"

Paula Hill, Gilmer Independent School District (ISD), Gilmer, TX

"Sharing this knowledge with my faculty has been the most powerful thing I have done with them to foster understanding of children and their families. It has totally changed the way they view our children from poverty. Meaningful relationships have flourished and achievement has shown marked improvement."

Dr. Jody J. Woodrum, Brooklet Elementary, Brooklet, GA

"'Ruby and Company' offer a wealth of information that gives us hope for building our staff's ability to tap into the potential of all of our learners. This is a resource we will treasure!"

Sharon Flack, West Virginia Department of Education, Charleston, WV

"After 30 years in education, it is wonderful to find a process that brings all the research and best practice together. Ruby is on a personal mission to help the students in our schools."

Ken Hendricks, Northwest Allen County Schools, Arcola, IN

"A complete program intended to benefit all kids, but especially those from poverty."

Raylene Gootee, Bartlesville Public Schools ISD #30, Bartlesville, IA

"Educators may shy away from the training A Framework for Understanding Poverty because they mistakenly think poverty means lack of financial resources. Poverty is the extent to which several resources are missing: financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, role models, knowledge of hidden rules of middle class. Combating cognitive deficiencies and discipline interventions are biggies for me. I teach math at high school to children who have failed algebra numerous times. This training will be invaluable to me."

Belinda Carpenter, Council Bluffs Community Schools, Council Bluffs, IA

"If you want to improve overall student achievement, build stronger relationships with students and parents, and have a better understanding and perspective of children of poverty - look no further than this program. Excellent!!"