Clients & Testimonials
Working with a literacy consultant is a big step; ensuring that you are working with the right one for your team is the key to teaching a successful curriculum. Here is some feedback we have received from people who have been happy to work with Leah.
“Leah’s incredible knowledge and experience in writing has led our teachers to be the strongest they can be and provide the highest quality of instruction.”
-Maria Alvarez,
“Leah has worked with our school for almost three years now. More than a consultant, she is a partner and a companion throughout our careers as teachers who teach literacy in the elementary level. The quality of her support goes beyond the typical, public school, monolingual setting to the dual-language immersion program in our case. She helps us think outside the box as to how we can best impart literacy instruction in two languages. Her incredible knowledge and experience in writing has led our teachers to be the strongest they can be and provide the highest quality of instruction. We consider the work she has accomplished with us as invaluable and completely irreplaceable.”
Maria Alvarez, Literacy Coach, Hola Charter School
“The teachers truly trust and enjoy working with Leah which absolutely translates to them willing to learn and take risks with implementing the workshop model.”
- Patrick Pomerville
“Leah Mermelstein has been a tremendous support to our district! Her ability to help the teaching staff feel comfortable and confident implementing Writing Workshop is wonderful. I have found that the teachers truly trust and enjoy working with Leah which absolutely translates to them willing to learn and take risks with implementing the workshop model. We have seen definite improvements in all areas of literacy in our elementary building.”
Patrick Pomerville, Superintendent of Schools, Waterford-Halfmoon UFSD
“When you work with Leah, you feel validated, confident and motivated to elevate to your instructional level of greatness.”
- Lisa Hanson
“Leah is a careful listener and will meet your entire district where they are in their literacy journey. She is for you but even more importantly she is for your students. When you work with Leah, you feel validated, confident and motivated to elevate to your instructional level of greatness. She makes every conversation seeped in the latest research. She is a search bar in human form and is able to communicate in a way that encourages curiosity and growth. You look forward to every interaction, professional development and visit. The takeaway is immediate and applicable to the work we do everyday.”
Lisa Hanson, Literacy Facilitator and Instructional Coach
Teachers and administrators have also given the following feedback about Leah’s workshops, demonstration lessons, and keynote speeches:
“I learned so much from Leah as a new teacher, and now as an experienced teacher I am still in awe of how well-planned, thoughtful and precise her language is!”
“Leah is upbeat, positive, and honest. Teachers are always comfortable and excited to work with her. She has an innate ability to help teachers look honestly at their work with students and make shifts in their teaching when necessary.”
“Leah was thoroughly engaging. I have never been more impressed with a speaker. She gave incredible answers to our questions.”
“I love when I can attend a workshop with information and ideas that I can bring back to the students. It was a valuable week.”
“Best workshop on writing that I’ve ever attended. Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge with us.”
“One of the most useful [lessons] of my professional development career.”
“This has to be the best workshop I’ve ever attended.”
“Leah has an intuitive ability to quickly assess what a school/district is doing well in the area of Reading and Writing Workshops, pinpoint key needs, and then create a plan of staff development on how to address those needs.”
The following are school districts and educational organizations Leah has recently collaborated with.
Edison, New Jersey, Elysian Charter School, Hoboken, New Jersey • Dansville, New York • Ben Franklin Classical Public Charter School • Florida, New York • Lopatcong, New Jersey • Missisquoi Valley School District • Hanford, CA • Burlington, Vermont • Washington Township, New Jersey • Victor, New York • South Colonie, New York • The Bronx New School, New York • Mohonasen, New York • Menands, New York • Berkeley, South Carolina • International School of London • Cobham International School • Neptune, New Jersey • Waterford-Halfmoon, New York • Hola Charter School, Hoboken, New Jersey • Danbury, Connecticut • Newark, New Jersey • East Village Community School, New York • St Albans, Vermont • Union Beach, NJ • Schuylerville, New York • Hilton, New York • Partnerships for Literacy and Learning: Virtual Book Study • Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES: Virtual Book Intensive • Capital Region BOCES: Planning Units of Study • Champlain Valley Educator Development Center: Planning Units of Study • Questar III BOCES, Planning Units of Study • Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES: Planning Units of Study