WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM

Tamara is doing a four part class on parenting; this class has proven to be extremely helpful to our residents. 

There has been much interaction between Tamara and the parents with roleplaying and questions. 

Those in attendance are able to leave the class excited to work with their children using newly learned, positive parenting skills. 

The resources which have been provided have been invaluable to the families who have participated in these classes. 

Lynnette J. Baker

Program Director

The Salvation Army, Lambuth Family Center 

 Options Alternative Middle School 

 I have had the opportunity to work with Tamara for the last four years on the Options Secondary Campus in Littleton Public Schools. Without hesitation, Tamara is passionate about restorative practices. 

Tamara has collaborated with our Restorative Practices Coordinator. Over the four years she has been here, Tamara has facilitated training for our staff, co-facilitated restorative circles, taught social-emotional curriculum to students, and led family group conferencing. 

The Family Group Conferencing has provided support to our students and families struggling with behaviors that impact school success like substance use and attendance issues. These conferences have been a helpful intervention for some families. 

I have been a public educator and administrator for seventeen years and believe strongly in the power of restorative practices. Tamara is dedicated, intelligent, and positive.

Ashley Broer Ph.D.

Principal

Options Middle School 

My relationship with Tamara began when she was hired to provide multiple cultural awareness trainings for the staff of Jefferson County Department of Human Services. Not only has Tamara been consistent, but she has been a pleasure to work with in creating these trainings and meeting our needs as they continue to change.

As any agency that has embarked on creating a more inclusive environment probably knows, we, as a department have had some challenges with this effort. We have faced some resistance and have had to confront our own biases in order to lead this initiative. Tamara specifically, has assisted us during this process by reminding us we are not abnormal to be facing these challenges, but also provided us support through this process.

During the trainings that were provided to our staff we encountered reports of discomfort and tension. While these are to be expected, these feelings can also be diffused by a good trainer, which is what Tamara sought to do in each of the trainings she facilitated. Tamara responded to feedback with professionalism and tailored her training skills to fit our needs each time.

The trainings that Tamara facilitated with during her work with our department are as follows:

- Cultural Awareness/Inclusiveness Training (discovering your own biases and how these relate to your work with your clients) – day long training for all staff

- Brown Bag Lunch Discussions (rotating panel presentations with people from the communities speak about the myths, truths and barriers they face)– lunch hour presentations

- Family Dynamic Workshops for the African American, Latino, and American Indian communities (researched information about the common practices in each of these workshops related to family functioning and parenting) – half day workshops

- Courageous Conversations Train-the-Trainer 

(training other trainers/facilitators/supervisors on how to have difficult conversations or address difficult comments during trainings) – one day long training

Throughout the last four years of working with Tamara she has shown compassion, professionalism and excellent customer service to everyone she has worked with here at the department. She has challenged our department to grow in this area of inclusiveness and has provided us with the tools and skills to do so. It has been a pleasure to work with Tamara and I would recommend her as a consultant, trainer and coach to other agencies/companies embarking on creating a more inclusive environment.

Ashleigh Sedbrook

Training Coordinator for Children, Youth & Families

Jefferson County Department of Human Services

I have very high regards and respect for Tamara as a Facilitator, Educator and Community Member.

Tamara facilitates our Family Group Conferences (FGC), Family Alternatives to Drugs (FAD) and Family Attendance Circles (FAC). I am most familiar with Tamara through her work in our Family Attendance Circles. These circles have been a catalyst in improving student attendance and behaviors, which are essential to global learning in school. A by-product of her intervention with the family is the relationships she builds with students and parents and between the families and our school. 

Tamara is generous with her ideas and philosophy.  She understands the work she does is important for this generation of students.  Our sister high school adopted her work as their primary intervention for non-attending students and asked Tamara to mentor staff and counselors in order to reach families. Our district and the surrounding community has benefitted from her outreach and leadership in bringing families and schools together to talk about student attendance.  I have been a part of her Groups and walked away thoroughly impressed and excited about the content. 

Because of her willingness to help, positive attitude and professional abilities, I am positive Tamara will be an asset to your educational institution. She is open to new challenges, peoples, cultures and customs.  She has a keen intelligence, with which to analyze and order her experience; irrepressible and outgoing personality; and an unusual ability for dealing with people of all ages and conditions.  

C. Ron Mangum

Dean of Students

Options Secondary Program

Tamara Sherwood has had such an impact on the Young Parenting Program here at William Smith  High School. One of the biggest problems our young people have today is learning to effectively communicate and resolve conflicts in their personal lives. 

I am confident that the caring instruction and positive role modeling Tamara demonstrated in the classroom have made a lasting impression on each of these young women’s lives. Old habits are so very hard to break, and many of these girls have struggled with anger management, poor parenting models, and repeated broken, often disappointing relationships. 

Every interaction I have observed of Tamara’s has been gentle, non-judgemental, and instructive. How fortunate we are to have benefited from your generous services! Our thanks and hopes for a continuing relationship.

Lynda Wright

Education Director, Young Parenting Program

William Smith High School