Testimonial Quotes – Story Be Told

Testimonials for

Performances

“A quick note to let you know how grateful I am for your time at Lakeland Elementary this week. Engaging, connected, and passionate have been some of the teacher’s descriptions of your efforts. Keep up the great work and know that you have made a great impact on us all.”
Mr. Bryan McKenna, Principal at Lakeland Elementary, Elk Rapids, Michigan

“Once again, I thank you for another relevant, entertaining and very curricular connected assembly. I’ve included my middle school and elementary colleagues in this email in case any of them would be interested in securing your services for a future assembly or at least talking to me about the West Middle School experiences with you over the past six years. I’ll be in contact to set up our 2014-2015 assembly.”
Mr. Clint Smiley, Principal, West Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Plymouth, Michigan

“Thank you for going out of your way to make your stories accessible to our students. It was such a rich and unique experience for them to have you share your stories”.
Carrie Gold, Oak Park School for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“You were fabulous as always. I have really been impressing on my students that when you listen to someone tell a story or read a book, you are given a gift that you can pass on. My little sweeties remembered this and reminded me that they had new stories from you to take home to their families. A huge thank-you for bringing your gift of storytelling to us.”
Tammy Rowley, Kindergarten Teacher, Kettle Lake Elementary School, Caledonia, MI

“Let a story be told! Let a story be heard!! What a great way to jump start writing in my first grade classroom.” “I loved how my students made text to text connections with Jen’s telling of a fable during her presentation.” “Jen has a magical way of engaging student in the reading and writing process.”
Pamela S. Morgan, First Grade Teacher, Bird Elementary School, Plymouth, Michigan

“Thanks so much for coming to Chatterington Middle School yesterday to tell Urban Legends. Our students really enjoyed your programs and have been retelling and embellishing stories all day. I really like your delivery. You were warm and spontaneous but also “hip” and “cool” and didn’t talk down to the kids or preach at them. You did a great job”.
Diane Falconer, Media Specialist, Chatterington Middle School, Warren, Michigan

Testimonials for

Library Programs

“My staff member and I, and all 35 teens who attended the event, thoroughly enjoyed the urban legends, scary stories and personal tales that you related. It was very gratifying to see teens, who previously had only been in to use our computers, among the members of the audience. I believe they have a new appreciation for what their library has to offer them.”
Anita O’Brien, Youth Librarian at Bacon Memorial District Library, Wyandotte, Michigan

“I wanted to thank you again for helping us kick-off our Summer Reading Program in June. You were incredible. I have had so much fun recreating rain and thunderstorms…and using tips I gleaned from your performance.”
Laura Touhey, Librarian, Leland Township Library, Leland, Michigan

Testimonials for

Workshops

“Strauss’ ability to turn what students might think is an ordinary story into something extraordinary is what makes her such an effective speaker”.
Audrey DuBois, Barryton Title I teacher, Barryton Elementary School, Barryton, Michigan

“Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with the children of our school! You have truly been an inspiration to them and have gotten them EXCITED about writing! You love and excitement for storytelling shines through every story you tell and every lesson you teach.”
Vicki Bowen, 4th grade teacher

“Our students have responded to you with enthusiasm and respect. You’ve changed their lives by giving them the confidence and desire to be better writers.”
Pat Hammond, Title I teacher, Weidman Elementary School, Weidman, Michigan

“This was the most wonderful week. I am so pumped up about writing. I’m hoping it’s contagious! Last night’s storytelling performance by the students was amazing! Thanks for all your work and enthusiasm.”
Linda Freeman, teacher at Weidman Elementary School

“Thank you so much for the work you did with my students this week! The stories are turning out great and they are much more excited about writing. It has been a great way to start the year.“
Sarah Nestle, 5th grade teacher

Testimonials for

Writing Residencies

Quotes from Teachers

“This week I marveled at my students as they put their adventure to paper. I cried as I listened to their stories both happy and sad; funny and serious. I saw each one from a new place. I grew as both a writer, and a teacher of writing. Thank you for your spirit and energy, but most of all for sharing your gift of storytelling.”
Angela Dey, 5th grade teacher

“Strauss’ ability to turn what students might think is an ordinary story into something extraordinary is what makes her such an effective speaker”.
Audrey DuBois, Barryton Title I teacher, Barryton Elementary School, Barryton, Michigan

“Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with the children of our school! You have truly been an inspiration to them and have gotten them EXCITED about writing! You love and excitement for storytelling shines through every story you tell and every lesson you teach.”
Vicki Bowem, 4th grade teacher

“Our students have responded to you with enthusiasm and respect. You’ve changed their lives by giving them the confidence and desire to be better writers.”
Pat Hammond, Title I teacher, Weidman Elementary School, Weidman, Michigan

“This was the most wonderful week. I am so pumped up about writing. I’m hoping it’s contagious! Last night’s storytelling performance by the students was amazing! Thanks for all your work and enthusiasm.”
Linda Freeman, teacher at Weidman Elementary School

“Thank you so much for the work you did with my students this week! The stories are turning out great and they are much more excited about writing. It has been a great way to start the year.“
Sarah Nestle, 5th grade teacher

Quotes from Students

“This week was the big-bang of the school year. I learned to love writing so much, I might get a 1 on the MEAP again!”
Logan Lee Snyder, 5th grade student

“You really inspired me to write more stories and hopefully my family will listen. Maybe I’ll get my dog to listen. I learned that stories come from your imagination but some stories come from your heart.”
Cassie Bertzler, Sister Lakes School, Dewagiac, Michigan

“Storytelling is a gift from the mouth.”
Hope James, 5th grade student

“I had so much fun learning to write better details. I appreciate that you are teaching kids about writing better. Thank you for teaching me to be a better storyteller, and a magnificent writer.”
4th grade student

Imlay City Middle School Writing Workshop

Testimonials from Students & Teachers

Students

“She makes us laugh so much we don’t even know we’re learning.”
-6th grade

“She is a good writer, I learned a lot.”
-6th grade

“She has a way with kids, I hope we have her back next year.”
-8th grade

“She makes learning and writing fun.”
-8th grade

“She helped me tell a story that was hard to tell. I am so grateful for her.”
-7th grade

Teachers

“She is excellent with middle school. She has a way of engaging them and helping them become better writers and thinkers.”

“She has a fun, interactive way to teach the narrative writing process.”

“I took tools from her that I will use in my own instruction. A win for kids, a win for teachers.”

Testimonials for

Keynotes

“Thank you so much for coming to speak to the Ottawa County Speech Pathologists. Your passion for storytelling is both contagious and inspiring. Thank you for sharing your expertise in a way that will allow us to better serve our students.”
Chelsea Green CCC-SLP, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, Holland, Michigan

“The effort you put forth to develop a quality presentation served to enhance the knowledge of the persons who attended the conference and contributed to the effectiveness of the Recipient Rights protection system in the state of Michigan.”
Andrew Silver, Director of Training, Office of Recipient Rights, Michigan Department of Community Health

“Very good speaker and engaging presenter.”
“She was wonderful, and truly a joy to listen to.”
“I thought Jenifer was very engaging. I would definitely recommend her to other groups.”

“I loved her high energy and even her personal experience with her mom brought a connection and understanding of our organization.”
Members of the Marketing Team for 42 Presbyterian Home Sites in Minnesota

Testimonials for

Training & Narrative Coaching

“Jenifer had great, well-organized content, fresh ideas. Her presentation was enthusiastic and engaging. This is one of the best webinars I’ve attended.”
Michigan Library Staff, February 2021.

“Thank you. I became a children’s programming person right at the beginning of the pandemic and I have been struggling. This session was SUPER helpful to me and I know I will use MANY ideas given today. Thanks Jennifer I loved your enthusiasm.”
Michigan Library Staff, February 2021.

“I am so very excited to implement some of these ideas in my next Storytime.”
Michigan Library Staff, March 2021.

“I had a presentation with Head Start parts directly after the webinar. I was able to use the ‘What’s Happening Here?’ activity as a suggestion for early literacy activities at home. So literally, within an hour of the webinar I was using what I learned!”
Michigan Library Staff, March 2021.

“Having worked with Jen for more than a decade, I have witnessed her influence on library staff as a natural teacher and her enthusiasm for the impact of stories on literacy. As a performer, she is highly engaging with audiences of all ages, and in workshops she answers impromptu questions expertly. Over the years I have enjoyed seeing her programming adaptations on various summer reading themes, knowledge of early literacy skills, and passion for narrative art.”
Cathy Lancaster, Youth Services Coordinator, Library of Michigan

Testimonials for

Virtual Narrative Coaching

“Jen’s virtual training on techniques for making storytimes educational, fun, and stimulating for the presenter and the audience reinvigorated our group of Vermont and New Hampshire based rural, public librarians. As COVID continues to drain enthusiasm for virtual learning, librarians, more than ever, want to engage their youngest patrons. Jen’s ideas were well-presented, well-documented, and easy to enact. By far, the greatest response was to Jen herself and her reminder that we are all storytellers. We hope to bring Jen back again and again!”
Meredith Scott, Program Director for Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)