What people are saying

Over the years, Leslie and her team have had the uncanny
ability to transform my long-term vision of better outcomes
for opportunity youth into successful educational programs
and solutions. We have worked with Talbot Consulting to
launch two alternative education programs: one high school
opened in partnership with Newark Public Schools, and the
other as New Jersey’s first alternative education charter high
school. Leslie and I have known each other and worked
together on various projects for over a decade. I appreciate the
knowledge, talent, collegiality, shared goals and understanding
she brings to our mission.

Rarely, but on special occasions, Fortune smiles on a nonprofit
organization by gifting it with an enormously talented, diligent,
very young staffer who is absolutely committed to its vision and
service goals. Such was the case when Leslie Talbot joined our
Urban Education team at the National Urban Coalition! Leslie’s
deep understanding, research skills, and policy-development
instincts were and are exemplary. It is deeply gratifying to see
how seamlessly she has migrated her early experiences into a
robust and highly respected consulting practice. I depend upon
her cutting-edge expertise, particularly in evaluating alternative
education programs, in assessing the options for startup
programs, and in school design strategy. Rare, and very
special indeed!

Talbot Consulting led by Leslie Talbot, is a great firm to
partner with when doing projects. I choose the word ‘partner’
intentionally because Leslie’s firm does take the approach of
partnership when working with clients. They are critical thought
partners who expose you to different angles that help elevate
your project to the next level. Finally, Leslie’s firm is committed
to excellence, the work products they produce are top notch.

Leslie’s approach to school design consulting is first listening
to the design team/founder to get an understanding of the
mission and vision of the school. Second, they learn the
political landscape and gain an understanding of the local
regulations for the geographicalarea in which the school will
reside. Third, educate the design team on what is doable,
mandatory and beyond the new school startup phase. Leslie
asks challenging essential questions to get to the core of what
the vision for the school will be. She also manages the process
in a way that keeps the work focused on the end goal and
within established timelines.

Talbot Consulting is an invaluable asset in our senior
consultancy toolkit. Over the years we have employed their
talent pool to draft our charter application, facilitate planning
and support our development efforts. Leslie and her team
consistently deliver at high level.

While working with Leslie to refine systems and procedures,
I was able to turnaround my previous school and raise state
test proficiency rates to nearly six times what it was when
I took over the school. Leslie is smart, resourceful, reliable
and results are guaranteed.
Leslie’s best attribute is that she builds capacity within your
team to enable you to eat for a lifetime and not just fish for
one day. She and her team worked beside us to ensure that
we felt comfortable and secure in the implementation of
any new policies and practices. A phone call is all that is ever
needed when we have additional concerns. The endless bank
of knowledge and assistance that Leslie and her team brings
enables me as a school leader to step back, and really
examine my operation, identify areas for professional growth
and to work side-by-side with my team to strengthen them.