TestimonialsHere’s what recent clients say about Spud Van de Water’s work: Spud Van de Water brings both a firm grasp of public policy issues and a focused, disciplined approach to each project – that’s what makes him so valuable. Over the years I’ve seen him tackle a variety of K-12 and higher education projects and each time he asks the right questions, frames the issues, and goes about methodically gathering the data and producing a high-quality final product. Whether it’s statewide strategic planning for K-12 reform or pushing the envelope to get policy makers thinking about the Pre-K-through-16 education continuum, Spud is organized, thoughtful, politically savvy, and always a keen analyst. Anyone looking for an experienced education or public policy consultant with strong project management and technical skills should look no further than Spud Van de Water. Gerrit Westervelt, President Spud has been extremely helpful as we think about the development of a comprehensive P-16 education system for the state of Ohio. The insight he has provided about both P-16 policy and practice have helped to shape our statewide agenda. The P-16 Framework Paper has helped us to engage different groups of stakeholders in thoughtful discussion about what it will take for Ohio to "think P-16." We have greatly valued Spud's work and will continue to call upon his expertise as we help Ohio move toward a more seamless system of learning. Jennifer Blatz, Program Officer Spud’s work rings with credibility and insight – a testament to his deep experience in education policy. It’s fair to say Spud was extremely helpful in getting Junior Achievement’s state advocacy programs off the ground. Edwin Bodensiek, Vice President, Government Relations I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Van de Water for almost two decades, first as the executive director of the Florida Postsecondary Education Planning Commission and most recently as the executive director of the Florida Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement ( a K – 20 policy and research board). His breadth and depth of knowledge in postsecondary and K – 12 education has allowed our Council to engage him in a variety of different endeavors. He has the ability to work with diverse education constituencies, synthesize input, and develop strategies and recommendations to address educational issues. I would recommend him highly as a consultant. William Proctor, Executive Director Spud has an outstanding knowledge of P-16 education policy and policy issues. Spud has led several grants focused on P-16 issues, helped state leaders analyze the pros and cons of new policy initiatives, and authored a widely used report, “What Is P-16 Education? A Primer for Legislators”. Spud has very effective and highly efficient problem-solving skills and is intelligent and savvy about politics and policy. His dedication to finding the most effective policy options given a state’s particular context makes him particularly valuable as a consultant. Robert Palaich, Partner Spud Van de Water has the credentials and experience to help leaders meet their education policy challenges. Spud is dedicated to applying research findings when developing new policy directions and is well-known in the education policy field as an excellent problem-solver and facilitator for change at both the state and local levels. He is comfortable asking the tough questions and, importantly, communicates problems and solutions clearly in both oral and written formats. I have had the opportunity to hire Spud as a consultant on several initiatives and each time the work exceeded my expectations. Spud is diligent about adhering to deadlines and budget requirements, is a joy to work with and very dependable. In a time when everyone seems to be consulting in one form or another, it is nice to know you can count on a person to help make your project a success. Marga Torrence, Project Director |
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