The following letter is reprinted here with permission.
Dear Mark:
I wanted to write and thank you for the wonderful OSX Administration Basics/Server Essentials class I attended March 11th-15th. It was a great experience because of the terrific trainer: You!
I am the first to admit that I am probably the most difficult person to train, on this planet or any other. I usually get way ahead of the class, ask lots of questions, and pretty much become a bother to whoever is stuck teaching me. You, on the other hand, have the ability to individualize your classes to meet the needs of students with different skill levels, learning styles and general abilities. You were able to allow me to move at my own pace, ask all my questions, and not disturb the rest of the class. This is truly a unique ability, and one that I have rarely found in the world of technical training.
Your “real world” experience is also another rare quality in technical training. You were able to answer even the most difficult and/or obscure questions because you actually use the products you teach! You made the course interesting by telling us how you use the tools, what you have seen in your work, and what things we needs to be careful when applying.
I appreciated your follow-up materials as well. Your website is continually growing, and is helping me implement my OSX server. Not only that, I am also learning more about Java, Unix, and Python thanks to the great information and links on your site. I have NEVER had a class that continued to teach me new things long after the class was over!
In short, I felt my time was well spent in your class. Your energy, personality, and knowledge truly made the learning experience for me. I hope to attends many more classes in the near future. If the trainers have half your ability, I will count myself lucky!
Sincerely,
Mindy Brinson
Technology Support Specialist
Henrico County Public Schools
Yes, that Henrico County. They’re one of Apple’s largest education customers, so this is a moderately big deal. And there are hints of even better news in the near future from the same source, but I can’t talk about that quite yet.
