L E T T E R S O F R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
Maxine L. Reagh
Principal
R.L. Stevens Elementary
"I am pleased to write this letter in praise and support of the Young Exhibiting Artists Program we were fortunate to have had at Robert L. Stevens School this past fall. The high degree of organization Director Lisa Fredenthal-Lee brought to the project, her incredible enthusiasm and encouragement she parlayed to the students, and the superior teaching strategies she used made for a rich learning experience for our students.
The program was brought to four classrooms in grades 3,4,5 and 6 at R.L. Stevens School. Each week, for seven weeks, Lisa and her team brought the joy of creative expression to our students. She communicated frequently and well with the four classroom teachers whose rooms were used for the lessons. Her materials were always well organized and her meticulous attention to detail assured that the footprint left in the classroom was minimal. Lisa always made sure to communicate with me, the principal, to inform me of any needs she had or any changes that had to be made. She was flexible and willing to work around the many scheduling demands of an elementary school.
Lisa's joy for the process of creating art was infectious. The projects that she inspired our students to create were original, fun and all made from re-used materials. The art processes she taught encouraged children to make art whenever they want to, with whatever they can find, using both familiar and unfamiliar materials. Lisa's emphasis on process was evidenced by the many photos she and her team took of the students involved in making art.
Lisa and her team know how to make vocabulary and concepts clear and accessible with props, gestures, and acting. Before meeting her young artists, a DVD copy of her PBS television show, Don't Throw That Away! was given to each classroom as a visual learning tool to introduce the students to the art of re-use and to the artist herself. Her very first lesson had students interacting with a large panel of picture frames imagining themselves in a museum, as they learned the meaning of the word "exhibit". Lisa knows how to break processes down into small steps so that children can understand.
All of this would have been enough to make her program outstanding but, the truly professional evening exhibit Lisa and her team prepared at the Finley Community Center in Santa Rosa was the grand finale! First, she dignified the event by creating postcards announcing the exhibit. The press was invited as were city dignitaries. A lovely artists' reception for our students, their families and community at large was provided. Most dazzling, were exhibits themselves. The big, bold, and snazzy way Lisa and her crew displayed our students' art was professional, original, and just beautiful. Additionally, she had all the student artists' names largely displayed next to their work, and photos of students in the process of making art abounded.
The Young Exhibiting Artists program is exemplary. I hope that other schools will have this opportunity that Lisa provided to our students. It was among the best enrichment programs I have seen. I invite you to call me for further testimony."
Annie-Marie Campanile
2nd / 3rd Grade Teacher
R.L. Stevens Elementary
"It was my pleasure to have Lisa R. Fredenthal-Lee conduct seven marvelous art classes with my students. Lisa's enthusiasm and humor were infectious! The children eagerly anticipated each meeting, looking forward to being able to freely express their creativity. The children were given the opportunity to work individually or in groups to produce fabulous art work. Lisa's focus, "making something out of nothing", is certainly timely and appropriate for our financially challenged schools. It's a great lesson for the students, too. They were inspired to go home and create their own artwork using recycled materials.
Lisa's wonderful, encompassing acceptance of student's individual capabilities and talents makes her program accessible to to all children. I highly recommend her!"
Tracy West
5th Grade Teacher
R.L. Stevens Elementary
"Over the past eight weeks my class has had the privilege to participate in the art program YEA! lead by an incredible artist and lady, Lisa Fredenthal-Lee. She started the program by doing an exciting lesson on what art is and what exhibiting is. The lesson was completely interactive and the kids became extremely fired-up to start doing art. Over the next 6 weeks she lead them on an incredible journey of art exploration. The students did sculpting, drawing, and creating art with many different types of recycled materials.
They all loved Lisa and her art so much and got very excited as her time with us approached each week. Over this time I saw a transformation happen with many of my students. Some of them did not believe in their creativity at the beginning of the program. They were used to guided art lessons with a desired outcome. I saw this lift in all the students during the last art lesson they were overcome with creativity pouring out of them. It was amazing for me to see it.
But the most spectacular part of the program was taking my kids on a field trip to see their own art on display in the community. Their eyes lit up and their smiles broaden as they saw their name and their art hanging up and looking professional and magnificent. They all now truly feel like artists and believe in their artistic abilities. They gained self-confidence and self-expression through this program. Both which are very hard to instill in children.
In my years teaching, I can honestly say this has been the most rewarding experience for my students. We were all deeply sad to see the program come to an end. I would recommend this program to every teacher and every school. Every child should have this experience."
Dr. Carl Wong
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools
"Thank you so much for the invitation to the premiere art exhibition by the young artists of R.L. Stevens at the Finley Community Center. I want to express my appreciation on behalf of the 130 students who benefited from your efforts to connect them to the world of art using recycled materials.
Your professional commitment to the arts is aligned with my statement of support for the Sonoma County Arts/Education Alliance. Below is an excerpt:
"...Quality arts education promotes relevance in education and supports academic rigor. Extensive research indicates that visual and performing arts education enhances and supports student academic achievement. In spite of the budgetary and political challenges we face, we must remember the value of quality arts education in a student's total learning experience...and ensure that it occurs in every classroom!"
The Governor's 2006-07 budget, released this week, has a new Art and Music Block Grant for $100 million. The intent of this funding is to reinstate art and music instruction in Kindergarten through grade eight. If approved by the Legislature, the grants will be distributed to school districts to hire staff, purchase materials and equipment, in support of the arts.
I commend you for your partnership with our schools and students."
