Cut and pasted from e-mails, here are some recent comments from those who have worked with me…

From Colleagues and Clients
Comments about Smithsonian National Zoo's Conservation Central (2004)

"It was a joy working with Paula on the Forest Walk project. She was great at converting my ramblings into lessons for students. It was nice to see the project move from ideas to reality with a minimum of stress for everyone involved." William McShea, Scientist, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Conservation and Research Center

Thanks, Paula, for all your hard work in making this resource such an amazing tool for teachers, students, and the public! It's especially nice that we are able to get some of the Zoo's interesting and sometimes complex science stories, tools, methods and results out to a National (and wider!) audience in such an innovative way!" Jennifer L. Buff, Education Program Manager, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Conservation & Research Center"

Conservation Central provides students and families with opportunities to become better informed, get involved, and make a diference in their own communities, as well as affect the future of critical animal habitats around the world." Dr. Lucy Spelman, Director, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park

Comments about the kNOw Hunger curriculum I conceived of, researched, and wrote (2002)
"At last, a compelling social content curriculum that meets approved educational standards! The curriculum gives students a way to understand and address hunger in their communities, their state and the nation. It facilitates knowledge about the extent and causes of hunger in the United States, its link to poverty and income disparities, and enables students to act on what they learn." (2002) Dr. J. Larry Brown, Director, Center on Hunger and Poverty, Brandeis University (Dr. Brown is one of the leading national experts on domestic hunger)

"We express our deep appreciation to Paula J. Sincero who developed the curriculum units with an impressive combination of professional acumen and passion of the spirit. " Gerda and Kurt Klein

Comments about Memories, Voices & Choices tolerance curriculum (2001)
"The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation was thrilled with the tolerance curriculum developed by Paula Sincero to accompany our five-part educational series, Memories, Voices & Choices. Her creative use of activities, questions and additional study sources made the curriculum an outstanding asset for the classroom teacher." Beth Reisboard, M. Ed., Executive Director, Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation

Comments from colleagues at MCET (1999)
"Paula has created, designed, developed and produced curricula that lead on-air program design in her specialty areas."…Her use of curriculum theory and knowledge of what is "current" in educational pedagogy made her curriculum packages items of high demand.… In my tenure in the field of education, I have worked with few persons to whom I would afford the rating of exceptional in regard to their curriculum knowledge and presentation. Ms. Sincero is certainly one of those people." Christopher S. Boe, M. Ed., CAS (Lead Project/Curriculum Developer, MCET)

"Paula possesses a unique understanding and skills set in the production and curriculum areas…Indeed, Paula Sincero is a rare find in the curriculum/production world. She is highly skilled and competent…She has very high expectations and ensures her programs have strong production and educational values.…Paula has the ability to think and rethink her strategies during the production process. She is flexible and is most willing to make changes to improve program quality…She is an outstanding resource and a dedicated employee." William H. Norris, Director of Research, Development and Special Projects, MCET

Comments about Memories, Voices & Choices tolerance program (1999)
Subject: Today's Visit with Beth, Gerda, and Kurt --Your sensitivity to this show and its numerous issues will make show a sure success. My deepest thanks. All of our guests left with wonderful feelings and a clear sense of direction and accomplishment. --Bill Norris-Director of Research and Development"

Subject: Memories, Voices & Choices-Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 08:15:02 -0400- It's my turn to congratulate everyone for a wonderful second show and for the related celebration of Gerda's 75th birthday. --This is the first time I've had an opportunity to be close to the actual production of such a moving event. While MCET has often tackled extremely emotional subjects (Drunk Driving, Teen Violence, etc.) this is perhaps the most moving and in some ways the most timely. --Thanks and congratulations goes first to Bill who worked some miracles to put the partnership together. Always the consumate host, his sensitivity to their feelings and genuine caring for Gerda and Kurt and for what they are trying to accomplish with their foundation is reflected in how everyone of us treats them and views them.--To Paula, who has developed a wonderful series and connected it so thoughtfully and viscerally to the students and adults alike; --To Carol and Alice who have clearly solidified the famillial relationship that has evolved with Kurt and Gerda and made us all a part of their extended "familly;"--To every member of the crew who clearly put much more than their usual work and energy into this project and do so with an obvious and deep sense of respect and love for those at the center of it; --To every member of the staff, all so welcoming and respectful and interested and willing to help in any way, --Thank you and congratulations on creating something important, wonderful, timely and timeless.--dgr <former executive director, MCET>

Comments about the service learning hunger curriculum I conceived of, researched, and wrote (1999)
"Paula developed a national curriculum guide for public school teachers to direct young people in community service activities to address domestic hunger. This project involved several organizational entities, its chief challenge being to take varying ideas and interests and combine them into a coherent program. Paula was most instrumental in orchestrating the successful outcome from this mix. Moreover, I observed her ability to successfully operationalize this outcome in the form of a curriculum format and materials of ready usefulness to busy classroom teachers. Throughout this process, she was cordial, professional and most willing to take responsibility to shape the end product.…I recommend her highly and without any reservation whatsoever." Dr. J. Larry Brown, Director, Center on Hunger and Poverty, Brandeis University

General comments about curricula, websites, and programs
"The Peace It Together Web site went beyond project expectations and continues to have a positive impact even after the project has ended.… The programs were very well received [by registered participants], considered high quality, and filled a void where curriculum and resources had not been easily accessed and utilized." Dr. Cheryl Casper, project evaluator <from the evaluation report Enterprising Communities: A Telecommunications Violence Prevention Initiative for Urban Teens and Teachers>

Subject: Thanks for the effort you put into your Writing Women In curriculum. It was fantastic! I think that the teachers who use it will find it both thorough and easy to use. I liked the way you had the sessions divided. This is one of the things teachers have been asking us to do. If it's okay with you, I will use this program as a guide and sample for the groups with whom I meet. GREAT JOB!!--Have a wonderful day!--CHRIS"

Subject: Peace It Together Resource Package --What a great package for teachers, youth workers and kids. Great job. --Bill Norris-Director of Research and Development"

"Congratulations on such wonderful feedback from the collaborators -- You have done a great job with this piece. Thanks for all of your hard work! Not only is it appreciated by those guys, but I appreciate it, too! --CHRIS--Christopher S. Boe-Lead Project/Curriculum Developer"

From Program Partners, Hosts/Presenters, Interns
"I remain impressed with Paula's professional background and intellectual rigor. She is first and foremost an educator who brings a commitment to issues of social justice to every program she designs for MCET. Through working with Paula I learned how her social vision influences every aspect of each project. In each of her programs, whether on world languages, the humanities, and/or the social sciences, is reflected a thoughtfulness and commitment to civic education. She has a deep interest in developing distance learning programs that enhance students understanding of civic responsibility through teaching students to analyze different viewpoints, recognize their participation in a diverse society, and seek to challenge inequities. Christine A. Woyshner" <Presenter, Writing Women In>

"Hi Paula! I want to thank you for planning such a memorable experience for my students. They enjoyed it very much and I was proud of their effort. You always made them feel welcome and good about themselves. Sincerely, Marcel LaVergne" <Presenter, Echanges (French language program)>

"I am in the middle of my unit on Indochine and I thought I'd say hello. I showed the first program with Jack Yeager and my students understood everything. I'll do the second program next week. I'm glad that you are doing the 6 part series on elementary world languages with Kathleen and Terese. I appreciate your advocacy in this area. This is it for me. I'm retiring on June 30th. Thanks for all the help that you gave me last year, although at times I was somewhat anxious. I am glad that I did it. I met a good number of people who saw the shows on cable including some relatives. You provided me with my 15 minutes of fame. Merci et au revoir!" Marcel <Presenter, Echanges (French language program)>

"Your Web site is not only an incredible resource, but it is obvious that it was carefully and thoughtfully developed. Thanks for making JoinTogether a plug-in partner. JoinTogether"

"Dear Mrs. Sincero: On behalf of the Massachusetts Regional Office of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, we would like to congratulate you on the tremendous success of the development and broadcast of this semester's Los caminos program. Again, congratulations on this tremendous endeavor and rest assured that you may count on our assistance again in the future. Paula, ¡gracias por tu apoyo! Sincerely, Tito Román, Regional Director"

"Thank you so much for all your support! You're great. I got home last evening and watched the tape with the other volunteers that help me out. They thought it was great, expecially the introduction. It is obvious that you really love what you do, and it shows. I am sure the exposure from the web site will fuel me even more than I already am. The great work you do will spread MAVIS' name across the US! Let's continue to stay in touch because I have a lot of interest in the rest of the shows. Linda" <Linda DeLucia (Director of MAVIS - Mother’s Against Violence in Schools)>

"Paula, What can we say? You are a great woman! Thanks so much for letting us co-host Peace It Together. You always prepared us and made it fun! We made a DIFFERENCE. Love, Gianna and Leanna" <youth co-hosts for three-time national-award-winning series, Peace It Together>

"PAULA,-WELL I GUESS THAT THIS IS GOODBYE. OUT OF ALL MY FIVE MONTHS AT MCET YOU WERE MY ONLY FRIEND OR PERSON THAT I FELT COMFORTABLE AROUND. AND YOU MADE ME FEEL AT HOME. EVEN THOUGH I WISH THAT I COULD STAY, I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. SO I GIVE YOU MY BEST WISHES AND ALL OF MY LOVE.-ALAWYS,-YOUR PEACE IT TOGETHER INTERN-CHARESE-PS, I HAVE ATTACHED A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT I WROTE IN YOUR HONOR."

From K-12 Students and Educators
Thanks so much for the videoconference with students from Montreal and for the wonderful materials you sent before the show. My students enjoyed it very much. Also, I used all of the materials to complete the curriculum unit on Quebec. We did the reading and visited the website. Combined with my own Quebec realia and slides, these < this e-mail was forwarded to me from the MCET Help Desk - unfortunately, part of it was cut off>

"The children love the job of being the phone intermediary, to field the students' questions, and to talk directly to those on the live program. It provides them with such a sense of responsibility and the entire class pulls together so that our questions come off well on the tube. Also, I find that it is important for children to learn that television is not all passive, blue funk, open-mouthed viewing, and that the screen need not be exuding loud noises and flashes of eye-blinking color. I want them to discover that educational TV can be a conduit to new and provocative discoveries in learning. Kudos go to the Mcet staff for their readiness and willingness to help with the local glitches that we have experienced. The children loved doing the project for the "Writing Women In" program and look forward to participating in the studio. What an opportunity! --Cheerio,--Clare Molloy"

Comments about Peace It Together: Strategies for Violence Prevention (website, curricula, programs)
"Paula, Congratulations for your entire, complex product. Great site, great values." <regarding Peace It Together Community Center Web site>

Subject: Keep up the good work --Hi,--I just happened to click onto local programming and saw your group talking about the positive things going on in our communities among the youth. I just wanted to say that I am impressed and enlightened to see this. There is so much bad news on TV about our young teens and children and it gives me such pleasure and optimism that there are groups out there trying to steer the youth in the right direction and that the teens themselves are recruiting their peers to stay clear of trouble. --In the aftermath of the shootings in Colorado it is so good to see someone portraying our youth in a positive way. Keep up the good work. --Sincerely,-Donna"

"Just wanted to tell you you have a cool Web site. I like the 'Zine." <student comment regarding Peace It Together Community Center Web site>

"I looked through the materials that were provided and read some of the information. The curriculum package was very useful and contained a great deal of valuable resources. The materials and programs far exceeded my expectations." <anonymous teacher from Peace It Together survey>

"The curriculum package is a valuable resource which will enhance my ability to make referrals to parents, students and other teaching staff at Roosevelt Jr. High and in my community." <anonymous teacher from Peace It Together survey>

"The program [Peace It Together] provided me with specific ideas and techniques for managing stressful situations which many of my students experience either directly or indirectly in today's changing society." <anonymous teacher from Peace It Together survey>

"A friend told me about your site recently, so I went surfing to check it out. I am a teacher in Klamath Falls, OR, and I found your site to be informative and very beneficial. BOB SAXON" <regarding Peace It Together Community Center Web site>

"I am the principal of a high school in Chicago. Unfortunately, I found this site too late to get our students involved. I am VERY interested in participating should the live broadcasts be offered again. Also, how do I go about getting curriculum materials to get others at the school excited about participation. Looks like you do a HUGE service to youth and schools. Keep up the good work! " <regarding Peace It Together Community Center Web site>

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