Research & Training Associates, Inc.

11030 Oakmont, Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66210-1100
June 14, 2004
To Whom It May Concern:

It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to support Susan Radley-Brown. Since 2002, Susan Radley-Brown has provided a variety of professional development activities to advance the level of literacy instruction in the Kansas City Missouri Public School System. As part of our work managing and implementing the technical assistance and professional development components of the Balanced Literacy Program for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Research & Training Associates, Inc. has worked with Susan in several ways. Susan designed the work of a cadre of 12 schools; the cadre’s design included presentations by Susan, demonstration lessons by Susan and participants, meetings and presentations with the principals, and examination of student work and teacher conferencing notes. Her work with the cadre served as a model for the work of other national consultants.

Susan has presented workshops such as "Revision" and "Poetry" at the annual summer institutes. She has also conducted informal "How’s It Going" sessions with teachers and administrators to follow-up on schools’ progress in the implementation of the literacy components. Both teachers and administrators rate these professional development opportunities as outstanding and directly applicable to their work with students.

I am pleased to provide my highest recommendation for Susan Radley-Brown’s professional development activities in the area of literacy. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely yours,
Dianne A. Seltzer, Ed.D.
Senior Research Associate