Anne L., Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Education
April 7, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
The purpose of this correspondence is to provide a professional reference for Mr. John Salzer. I have known John for approximately two years and have found him to be an outstanding professional. He is skilled at solving complex problems, very hardworking and an extremely good collaborator.
I was introduced to John after I started my current position at the Minnesota Department of Education in 2012. I was hired to launch regional service delivery centers throughout the State, the purpose of which was to provide school improvement support to local districts. As part of this work, we were in need of an electronic system that would allow us to track the time, effort, activities and resources used by over 20 colleagues working with educators statewide. John was able to help us problem-solve an approach which resulted in the design of an electronic system called the CESTAR, which stands for the Centers of Excellence Staff, Time, Activities, and Resources. This data base has enabled the Department to collect data on our regional service delivery system that ensures we are providing efficient, effective and equitable support.
When this project began, I gave John a large stack of documents that included things such as the federal grant work plan, communication protocols, school improvement plans, performance review forms, and job descriptions. He was able to analyze information from these foundational documents to creatively synthesize a solution to meet our needs and subsequently design a database that has enabled the Department to measure and monitor the impact of the Centers of Excellence. This has enabled us to ensure that federal funds are well spent, and schools working with the Centers of Excellence are able to achieve positive results. Our Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, has received national recognition for these efforts, and John’s well-designed system is responsible for documenting much of this success.
Throughout the struggles and successes of implementing CESTAR, John was always as close as the phone, and eager to assist all members of my team in ensuring we had the assistance necessary to effectively use CESTAR. His technical support was very thorough and he always provided prompt responses to our requests. John listens carefully, applying patience with less-tech savvy team members, and in the end, delivered results that exceed our expectations.
John has become an important member of our Centers of Excellence team, where his excellent services, quick wit and keen sense of humor have earned him the respect of everyone who has collaborated with him. I have personally recommended John’s consulting services for additional work with colleagues, and true to form, he has met with success at every level. His consistent, high- quality assistance has enabled the Department to replicate our regional service efforts and expand programs throughout Minnesota.
It is a privilege to have this opportunity to write a letter of support for Mr. Salzer, and offer the highest professional recommendation on his behalf.
Sincerely,
Anne M. Lundquist, Ed. D.
Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Education
April 7, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
The purpose of this correspondence is to provide a professional reference for Mr. John Salzer. I have known John for approximately two years and have found him to be an outstanding professional. He is skilled at solving complex problems, very hardworking and an extremely good collaborator.
I was introduced to John after I started my current position at the Minnesota Department of Education in 2012. I was hired to launch regional service delivery centers throughout the State, the purpose of which was to provide school improvement support to local districts. As part of this work, we were in need of an electronic system that would allow us to track the time, effort, activities and resources used by over 20 colleagues working with educators statewide. John was able to help us problem-solve an approach which resulted in the design of an electronic system called the CESTAR, which stands for the Centers of Excellence Staff, Time, Activities, and Resources. This data base has enabled the Department to collect data on our regional service delivery system that ensures we are providing efficient, effective and equitable support.
When this project began, I gave John a large stack of documents that included things such as the federal grant work plan, communication protocols, school improvement plans, performance review forms, and job descriptions. He was able to analyze information from these foundational documents to creatively synthesize a solution to meet our needs and subsequently design a database that has enabled the Department to measure and monitor the impact of the Centers of Excellence. This has enabled us to ensure that federal funds are well spent, and schools working with the Centers of Excellence are able to achieve positive results. Our Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, has received national recognition for these efforts, and John’s well-designed system is responsible for documenting much of this success.
Throughout the struggles and successes of implementing CESTAR, John was always as close as the phone, and eager to assist all members of my team in ensuring we had the assistance necessary to effectively use CESTAR. His technical support was very thorough and he always provided prompt responses to our requests. John listens carefully, applying patience with less-tech savvy team members, and in the end, delivered results that exceed our expectations.
John has become an important member of our Centers of Excellence team, where his excellent services, quick wit and keen sense of humor have earned him the respect of everyone who has collaborated with him. I have personally recommended John’s consulting services for additional work with colleagues, and true to form, he has met with success at every level. His consistent, high- quality assistance has enabled the Department to replicate our regional service efforts and expand programs throughout Minnesota.
It is a privilege to have this opportunity to write a letter of support for Mr. Salzer, and offer the highest professional recommendation on his behalf.
Sincerely,
Anne M. Lundquist, Ed. D.
Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Education