Testimonials:
“I would recommend your workshops to anyone dealing with education. The way your lesson ideas connect with how my students WANT to learn is phenomenal!”
“I love how the presenters demonstrated each activity and explained how they are tied to state grade level expectations.”
“This was my second seminar with your company. I can’t wait for the third. Very helpful, well-presented, and tons of useable concepts and materials.”
“I love workshops that give me things to use the next day with my students. I am energized and ready to put these ideas into practice.”
“The workshops are excellent. Everything is teacher and student friendly. Lots of great examples of exemplary student work.”
“I loved being able to practice the activities with other participants. The presenters walked us through each activity so I felt prepared to try them the very next day in my classroom.”
“Your workshops are jam packed with useful information. There is no down time- each minute I learn something new! Your presenters are knowledgeable and entertaining.”
“Thanks for using our time so well. This was one of the very best workshops I’ve attended. Thanks for speaking so frankly about what our students truly need.”
"Tysie McDowell-Ray has outstanding insight into people and organizational structures. She sees the bigger picture and is able to help people look at themselves in non-threatening ways."
-Dr. Lynne Beachner
Charter School Executive Director
"Tysie consistantly presents the information from the viewpoint of a well-seasoned educator. She has experienced all the frustrations that a classroom teacher encounters as they shift from a didactic model to a teacher as facilitator model. Her empathetic approach feeds the educator and builds remarkable strength as the teacher moves into practice.
She is knowledgeable, well read and very adept at creating a professional development program that builds student success. Without reservation I would recommend her to work with any school that is looking to create innovative instructional programs that foster lasting change."
-Diana L. Swezy Ed.D.
Principal, Santa Fe Accelerated Elementary School
"Tysie is very passionate about building relationships with students and families. She chaired a Parent Involvement Committee that resulted in a school-wide implementation of teachers routinely reaching out to parents. Tysie prepared logbooks for each teacher to document positive parent contact.
I am very impressed by Tysie's effort to bring young leaders of color into the school community. Tysie initiated a mentor program for our fifth grade students. The students correspond with their mentors via e-mail weekly and various mentors visit the schools once each month. She understands that students need to see successful people that look like them."
-Kajuan Cummings
Charter School Principal
"Tysie teaches us how to handle discipline cases with consistency and fairness. She remains calm and has the ability to also remain objective. She has a firm understanding of the discipline process and how to use language that solves problems rather than make them bigger. She is good at suggesting ways to hold children accountable without forgetting about the grace that children need."
-Douglass Walker
Behavior Interventionist
"Tysie is a master of Balanced Literacy. She is very knowledgeable on how to apply Balanced Literacy to students at various academic levels. It is second nature for her to create modifications and accommodations for special education students. I've been in education for over 20 years and she has opened my eyes to new ways of reaching and teaching students."
-Carolyn Faenger
Special Education Educator
"Tysie is an exceptional leader in the area of Balanced Literacy. By watching and learning from Tysie, I have become a better educator. She is very knowledgeable about her subject and delivers the information in an easy way that can be implemented in the classroom."
-Jennifer Scanlon-Smith
Catholic School Principal