Our pals are still doing their day jobs, but they are supplementing their work with volunteer efforts to improve their influence on education in their neighborhood. After the tow-away debacle, things continued. A few days later, Jaimie sent an email message to Anna and Alberto about her follow-up conversation with Professor Bebopp.—JohnL

Jamie wrote:

Hey, team.

I called Bebopp this afternoon, as I said when we were going to get our cars back. She picked up right away. I told her that I just wanted to thank her for her time and ask if she had any additional thoughts. She said she 'was glad to help us, anytime.' I asked if she had thought any more at all about recommendations for experts whom we could contact. She said something about a Joanie Peters and a Pat or (Patrick or Patrice?) Smith, but she didn't give me contact info.

She also gave me another earful about the kids and their long-term outcomes rather than the "temporary" achievements. (Thanks, Al, for reminding me to keep my emotions in check!)

So, I'm going to follow up on that lead about Smith. When I can contact the person she mentioned, maybe we can have a conversation about Smith and Smythe.

Any other ideas?

Anna replied within a half hour.

Excellent! I think I've met Patrice Smith. She's a reading researcher. You might try PatASmith@mnop.edu.

Jamie responded,

I asked Bebopp about any other contacts. She also mentioned Joan (Joanie?) Peters. I searched for her...looks like she has a curriculum to sell that sounds a lot like the XYZ that we heard about at our last meeting.

Late that night, Alberto replied.

Good progress! Thank your both for pushing this forward.

I know our visit with Bebopp was disappointing, but I don't want us to toss out the baby with the bath water. Our meeting was, maybe, dislutional (sp?) but I think we should keep in mind what she said about learning about children's experiences. What do they think? Feel?

Jamie replied late that night, too.

Al, sure let's find out what the kids and the teacher and parents feel about method XYZ (and any other curriculums). I still think the most important part is if the kids learn to read. Good night...early miles tomorrow.

After Jamie's sign-off that night, Anna replied,

"What are we going to say tommorrow at the committee meeting?"

Up late, Alberto was able to send the last reply in the thread of e-mail messages:

I recommend we play it very straight. Here’s what we did. Here’s what we learned. Here’s what we still have to learn. Here’s our plan to continue the work.

Does that make sense?

Good night!