Praise and Mentions

"I have learned so much through Grace Sammon’s work at our high school. Her vision, honesty and optimism are the ingredients that helped to make our program such a success. We know that we have a lot of work yet to do -- but Sammon is the one who assisted a team of teachers with the most important step -- that being the first."

Leesa B. Falterman -- Special Education Coordinator and Life Skills Academy Director, Westgate HS, New Iberia, LA

"Creating and sustaining SLC is not for the faint of heart. Without this invaluable resource, and the talents and expertise of the writer, we likely would have done neither."

Cynthia Conwell -- School Improvement Facilitator, Houston Independent School District

"Creating and Sustaining Small Learning Communities strikes the right balance between theory and praxis. Sammon’s solid research-based approach, and her respect for the fact that the true experts in school improvement must be those who live and work in the system, pays off. This extensive text, and impressive electronic Tool Kit, reflects a national perspective on school reform gleaned from Sammon’s many years of partnering with school systems for success for all students and teachers."

Gary Norris, Superintendent – Sarasota County Public Schools.

"GMS supported us in building capacity in the areas of application of research to practice, providing strategies to improve teaching and learning that maximize student achievement, and tools and techniques that enable staff to implement, share, and sustain new learning."

-- Kent Mathers, Assistant Superintendent, Yukon Public Schools, Oklahoma

"Sammon’s years of experience in the field as practitioner and consultant have resulted in real rewards for schools serious about the reform process. Her approach provides us with a clear image and useful strategies for "jumping off the wheel" and engaging in a productive process of effective reform.

-- Patricia W. McNeil, Former Assistant Secretary, US Department of Education "

Grace Sammon’s Hamster Wheel takes a hard and honest look at what is and isn't working in our schools. Grace's humor, common sense, and research have real pay offs for those engaged in reform."

– Armando Alaniz, Assistant Superintendent for High School Improvement and Accountability, Houston Independent School District

"Hamster Wheel goes well beyond the sphere of education. Education is only a beginning point, the lessons have real applicability for all of our organizations and for ourselves."

-- Sharon E. Barrett, Former Director for Minority and Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services' Bureau of Primary Care

"I wouldn’t change a word. Grace’s Hamster Wheel message reaches right into our classrooms and makes us all individually responsible for student success."

Billie Donegan, 30-year teacher, Keystone Ed

"Hamster Wheel provides just the right balance between looking at the real truth about our high schools and providing the motivation, skills, and abilities to make real change.

-- Melba Kennedy, Louisiana State Department of Education