The Learning Community
THE LEARNING COMMUNITY is a non-profit, public-benefit corporation established in 1993. Its mission: helping schools and parents work together on behalf of the children.
Why? Very simply, parent involvement is the key to a child's success-in school and in life. Good parenting is not about financial success; it's about being there for kids-encouraging, disciplining, motivating, and setting expectations. We want children to become the best they can be.
There is nothing more important than raising a child, but being a parent is not an easy job. Babies don't come with instruction booklets. And often there is a lack of family, school, or community support.
THE LEARNING COMMUNITY and ORNAMENTS TO REMEMBER hope to change that. (For more information, see www.TheLearningCommunity.us)
None of us is as smart as all of us. Let's work together on behalf of the children. A gift from ORNAMENTS TO REMEMBER is one that keeps on giving.
About Our Founder: Dr. Sarah Stanley
After teaching and working as a principal in the public schools, Sarah obtained her doctorate ar UCLA's Graduate School of Education. Dr. Stanley spent the next seven years coordinating evaluation and test-development projects at IOX Assessment Associates (IOX), a Los Angeles-based educational research and development company.
Sarah became President of IOX in 1995, and has played a major role in producing, and often moderating, the staff development and parent-education videos produced by IOX. Moreover, Dr. Stanley created and produced a series of nationally syndicated 90-second inserts for local television stations. This series, Education Plus, was designed to help parents help their children succeed in school and in life.
To further the support of Education Plus and other similar programs, Sarah established THE LEARNING COMMUNITY, a non-profit, public-benefit corporation whose mission is to help families and schools work together on behalf of children.
In addition to her continuing leadership of IOX, Dr. Stanley started an entrepreneurial venture, ORNAMENTS TO REMEMBER, with the goal of generating an ongoing revenue stream for THE LEARNING COMMUNITY. Although no longer working actively in the classroom, Sarah uses other means to support the cause of public education.
About Our Staff
You are lucky when you work with people who take such pride in their work. ORNAMENTS TO REMEMBER is staffed by hard-working, interesting women. The WOOTRs (Women of Ornaments to Remember) are not afraid to take risks and learn new things. Yes, it seems so glamorous--because we are always busy bedecking, bejeweling, and bedazzling with ornaments. Behind ornamental bling, though, is a lot of hard work.
TREASA ROBINSON
Ornament designer and tree decorator, Treasa, keeps the showrooms looking beautiful with creative display ideas. She has been growing her tree-decorating skills for 30 years! Maybe she was genetically-predisposed as her parents are Christmas tree farmers. "To see an idea come to life in the form of a blown-glass, hand-crafted ornament is fascinating. I love the excitement of opening the new sample ornaments when they arrive from Europe--it feels like Christmas all year round."
BARBARA LAUER
Keeping all the books balanced and the office running smoothly, Barbara's diverse skills are applied to all facets of the business. Perhaps her hiking and motorcycle riding skills help keep her in balance! "I like having a product that is fun to sell."
CONNIE MILLS
If you call OTR with a question or to place an order, you will probably be speaking with her. She also helps with shipping, catalog requests, and myriad other office responsibilities.
"I just had my one-year anniversary and during that time I learned to appreciate our ornaments as an art form. I still can't get over that each one is hand-painted by a talented artist. I'm artistically-challenged and since there is so much detail on the ornaments, I enjoy looking at the beautiful work our European colleagues create."
