Dear Sir / Madam:
I am writing this letter of recommendation for Diana Wilson, a substance abuse prevention specialist and educator. I became familiar with Diana’s dynamic work with middle and high school students, their parents and teachers, and school administrators during her three annual visits to the American School of Bombay in Mumbai, India between 2007 and 2009. During that period, I was the Middle School Counselor there.
Diana is a genuine person, an astute professional, and a passionate advocate who connects and collaborates well with the varied stakeholders in schools. Through her educational programs – which are largely customized to meet the specific needs of each school’s population – Diana shares her expert knowledge of both the current research in the field and best practices in substance abuse prevention, and delivers it in a manner that is honest, practical and relevant. For example, I have been consistently impressed by her knowledge of trends of commonly abused substances both in the Unites States and in the countries/cities around the world in which she has worked.
Diana’s impact as an educator, presenter and collaborator is profound. While the concrete and practical information she provides is sound, her approach with students is highly interactive and she safely challenges students to examine their own values and beliefs and to consider alternative behaviors that are more aligned with them. Throughout this process, Diana effectively uses self-disclosure. She makes each presentation very real by sharing of herself and her own journey of recovery, and she provides appropriate, authentic, and balanced responses to the everyday challenges students face among peers, at school and home, and in the community. Students have personally stated to me that they felt empowered to make healthier decisions in their own lives because of Diana’s inspiring presentation and personal journey.
Any school community that is seeking a positive and effective collaborator, consultant, and leader in the field of substance abuse prevention and risk reduction need not look any further. Diana Wilson is among the best I have had the good fortune to work with on this important topic. I strongly recommend Diana for work in any school community that is hoping to safely and effectively address substance abuse and other risky behaviors by their students.
For any further information or any clarification on my recommendation, I can be contacted by email at dletiecq@iskl.edu.my or by telephone at +6 017 255 0125.
Very truly yours,
David Letiecq
Middle School Counselor
International School of Kuala Lumpur
Client Schools
Notor Dame Sherman Oaks Ca
Sigapore
International School Bangkok Thailand
International Frankfurt Germany
Our Lady of Marymount, Los Angeles Ca
Friends Baltimore
Loyola, Los Angeles Ca
International School Twain
International School of Beijing China
International School Mumbai India