1. November 9, 2015
To whom it may concern,
It is an honor to write this letter of recommendation for Mrs. Susan Dyer-Layer, for consideration to
present a unique program specifically developed by her to promote positive peer relationships at your
school. Mrs. Dyer-Layer is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work.
She has served St. Pete Christian School as a school counselor for 14 years. As a counselor she
provided individual, group, family, and classroom instruction and support for faculty, students, and
parents. In addition to this, Susan provided training with our faculty providing researched best practices to
implement within the individual classrooms and throughout the school campus in creating a safe learning
environment. Her work is supported by research, experience, and the Word of God.
The Peace Keepers Program, a Christian bully prevention program was designed to raise an
awareness of positive peer relationships and peer accountability to help promote a safe learning
environment. The strategies utilized in the program help identify and prevent “bully” type behaviors.
Strategies for intervention to help the victim and the culprit are also vital components of the program and
have proven to be very successful.
As part of the intervention, Mrs. Layer has volunteered many hours organizing an after school mentor
program as an extra-curricular activity. The Peace Keepers Program includes training for mentors and
volunteers, organizing activities for mentors and mentees to participate in together, and the
implementation of positive “role playing.” The data collected from the annual surveys showed a decrease
in student bullying and the results helped us to assess areas of success as well as areas needed for
improvement each year.
Without reservation, I recommend Susan Dyer-Layer, the opportunity to present the Peace Keepers
Program to you. I hope you will consider her to be a part of your team at your school in implementing this
successful program school-wide. We have truly been blessed to have such a dedicated and committed
individual as part of our team in promoting a safe environment for our school. We continue to utilize the
program she developed for our school. What a great legacy she has left for us!
If you have any questions, or would like to discuss Mrs. Dyer-Layer’s experience while employed here
at SPCS, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kathy Spangler
Kathy Spangler
Lower Division Principal
St. Pete Christian School
2021 62nd Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
spanglerk@stpetechristian.org