Testimonials

“It was great to meet everyone - it was definitely a life-changing experience to be in the same room as you and talking about current, relevant issues we are all facing. I admire each of you for your spirit, determination, and focus.”

“CLS’s support has been instrumental in the ways that we have been able to continue to move forward in the district. I was reminded of that today when I was in a regional meeting with my superintendent colleagues and they were talking about needing to find different ways to assess kids and reporting that reflects what kids are able to really do and I breathed a sigh of relief because even though there is uncertainty all around us- in Greenfield we are abundantly clear on the practices that are best for kids and will best prepare them for their futures. Thank you for the support and coaching you provide us!”

“Thank you for the feedback and for the conversation on Thursday. I have really enjoyed this entire process. It has been some of the most valuable Professional Development that we have had. I have certainly gained a lot!”

“ I wanted you to see what they came away with from your meeting. This is really fabulous! Thank you for the idea and the coaching! I LOVE THIS!!!”

“Our day went very well! Bill did a great job! I am so happy that we did not try to do this work on our own. I appreciate all the assistance in getting us to this point!”

“I appreciate the engagement and the use of relevant resources that will help guide our change work. Also, appreciate Dr. Reeves’ being so accessible and his approach to on-going professional development. Before this session I was feeling hopeless and unsure of where to start with a few failed initiatives. ”

“The PD days with Dr. Foley were very well received by the staff and on target for what we were wishing for/expecting. The teachers were wishing to work with Dr. Foley more in the future.”

“It gives me, and I know it must for the rest of the staff to see the positives the consultants have sent to us; giving us a feeling of worth and accomplishment. This is helping to uplift us all. It is a good feeling to be moving toward the positive. Keep up the good work.”

“Her personality and ability to establish a positive rapport quickly with schools assisted her in obtaining information. Schools felt comfortable talking to a “stranger” so she could effectively determine what was going on in our schools.”

“Folks left energized with a vision for engaging in productive inquiry, which is everything I could have hoped for and more.”

“Thank you for your time today. It was incredibly valuable. Honestly, it was inspiring and I feel that I am working to change a cultural perception with my students. It was incredible to hear you talk about accuracy and fairness and I know that I strive for both of these in my grading practices. Today encouraged me to keep moving forward.”

“I was great to see you! I always learn so much from watching you coach the teams. Your work with the BMS teachers was masterful. It was very helpful to see how you work with a team who is brand new to the process.”

“I have ALWAYS been impressed by your leadership and you knowledge especially about data teams, PLCs, and walkthrough feedback! You continue to inspire me through your work ethic, drive, and ability to motivate others! Great job Lisa!! ”

“I wanted to thank you again for the presentation today. We had a post institute social this afternoon and it was most exciting to walk around and hear the buzz that your presentation generated. Leaders were talking about small steps and big wins they were planning. We asked participants to list three 3 action steps they were going to take following the 3-day institute and many of the things they listed were spurred by your words.

Folks were most impressed with how you were able to weave in Tacoma’s strategic plan, our work around standards, and a host of other things unique to the district. You certainly did your homework and are skilled at creating connections.”

“What a fantastic day with Dr. Reeves! To be that engaged for an entire day...fantastic. I can tell that he has walked this walk for sometime and genuinely cares about what happens in our classrooms.”

“District-wide change is complex and challenging. Partnering with Dr. Douglas Reeves and the Creative Leadership Solutions Team has been the single most powerful ingredient in our district’s strategy to maximize achievement for all students. I have had the pleasure to collaborate with Dr. Reeves on multiple projects, including strengths-based leadership coaching for administrators and teacher-leaders, enhancing grading practices and crafting a 21st Century multi-pronged assessment system. I am in awe of Dr. Reeves’ ability to propose options for tailored paths of growth within a common forward momentum. Even people who were initially on completely different pages are able to see how they fit as we build a topnotch and contemporary educational system for each and every student in our district.”

“The training was wonderful thus far, I truly believe that this is the best institute that I have been to! The information is current and directly relates back to work in district. I am very excited about future movement in our district. ”

“It was the greatest learning opportunity I’ve had in my career. I’ll have to admit I was star struck with Dr. Reeves’ presence at first, but he quickly removed that barrier as he solicited our input on topics he has done years of research on. For this opportunity I am forever grateful.””

“I just wanted to let you know I appreciate your work with our school. We are grateful for the assistance you provide us. In conversations after the training, it became apparent that our facilitators learned a lot from the session. We saw many of our facilitators referencing the training when we held our collaborative teacher team meetings this week. Thanks for your help!”

“Yesterday’s professional development opportunity was fantastic. In fact, I felt it was the best offering we’ve had since Rick and Becky presented their initial PLC framework to the district in 2006. I was equally as impressed with the level of engagement from the team. That was directly connected to the content and your delivery of it. Thank you for making it personal to D54; that meant a great deal to me and the team.” ”

“All I can say is, Wow! My expectations were overwhelmingly exceeded and the only problem is the time went too fast. The pacing of the workshop was perfect, including sufficient time for breaks, individual reflection and small group discussion. The content was relevant, and Dr. Reeves added slides from our breakfast discussion and questions/comments from participants during the breaks.”

“This training was exactly what we need to do the work we have ahead. Here are my two big ideas from our morning together:
1. Your approach to DRT was exactly what we needed. You are direct, you do not waste time and you are specific. As a result, our group knows the expectation. The feedback says that.
2. While time will always be an issue in our profession, you showed us how to use what time we have effectively and directly. This will make what time we have very useful and impactful if done correctly and with an attitude of learning and change. ”