at the Juvenile Detention Center in San Diego, after a local Judge inquired as to whether I knew a professional who might go into the Center, to teach youngsters how to read.
Having watched with interest and enthusiasm, as you developed your techniques across the years, I expressed my opinion that you were indeed the person for the job.
As you may recall, the Judge I spoke with was especially interested in our testing one young man, in particular. He had, heretofore, opened up to no one, and when the detainee entered the holding cell for us to assess him, he was both apprehensive and defiant. His arms folded tightly against his chest, he asked: "How are you going to teach me to read, without any books?" Yet, when you inquired as to what that young man's passion was, his entire demeanor
altered, as he exclaimed, "I love my dogs!" His arms then came down to his sides, as he began to tell his first story that would lead to his eventual reading. It was remarkable to watch the hostility and combativeness drain right out of that troubled youth.
Needless to say, this youngster went on to speak warmly of his dogs, elaborating as to how deeply he cared for them, how he groomed them, remarking too, that he had even taught his younger sister to attend to his dogs, while he was incarcerated.
Long story short, I witnessed how that Reading-Right participant completely opened to become an excellent communicator. Further, he went on to both read and write with significant skill. The penal system had entirely misdiagnosed this detainee; yet, as he engaged with your training, I watched him literally become a completely different