Special Announcement from Dovetail Learning
August 29, 2019
Today, Dovetail Learning, a non-profit specializing in customized solutions for developing resilience in adults and children, announces we will be transitioning TOOLBOX™ fulfillment as of December 31, 2019 to Toolbox Project, LLC, a for-profit owned and operated by Mark A. Collin, founder of TOOLBOX.
Dovetail Learning will continue as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with all proceeds reinvested in our core programs and services to empower people to create a world of kind, connected human beings. Dovetail Learning provides products and services to foster resilience and self-management which improve mental health, school climate, and community wellness. We are committed to moving into the Open Educational Resource model, a proven distribution technology. The Open Educational Resource (OER) model is open to anyone and accelerates SEL results. It will allow Dovetail Learning to effectively and efficiently serve its core vision. Among other benefits, the Open Educational Resource model improves distribution of our programs and services to people, schools, organizations and communities.
Over the past 10 years, Dovetail Learning has become a leader in providing social and emotional learning (SEL) and systemic school improvement that transforms adults and children from the inside out. We will continue to develop transformative SEL services and products, leveraging decades of staff experience in understanding systemic support for what children, families, educators and others need in order to develop resilience. We will also be expanding our offerings to include other communities such as health care providers and corporate organizations.
For more information about the future of TOOLBOX or Toolbox Project, LLC please inquire at info@ToolboxProject.com.
Dovetail Learning will continue as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with all proceeds reinvested in our core programs and services to empower people to create a world of kind, connected human beings. Dovetail Learning provides products and services to foster resilience and self-management which improve mental health, school climate, and community wellness. We are committed to moving into the Open Educational Resource model, a proven distribution technology. The Open Educational Resource (OER) model is open to anyone and accelerates SEL results. It will allow Dovetail Learning to effectively and efficiently serve its core vision. Among other benefits, the Open Educational Resource model improves distribution of our programs and services to people, schools, organizations and communities.
Over the past 10 years, Dovetail Learning has become a leader in providing social and emotional learning (SEL) and systemic school improvement that transforms adults and children from the inside out. We will continue to develop transformative SEL services and products, leveraging decades of staff experience in understanding systemic support for what children, families, educators and others need in order to develop resilience. We will also be expanding our offerings to include other communities such as health care providers and corporate organizations.
For more information about the future of TOOLBOX or Toolbox Project, LLC please inquire at info@ToolboxProject.com.
Dovetail Learning Transition FAQs
WHAT is happening?
WHY is it happening?
WHAT does this mean for Customers?
Obtaining TOOLBOX™ Support
New Dovetail Learning Services and Products
WHY is it happening?
WHAT does this mean for Customers?
Obtaining TOOLBOX™ Support
New Dovetail Learning Services and Products
WHAT is happening?
- On August 29, 2019 Dovetail Learning is announcing we will no longer represent TOOLBOX™ as of December 31, 2019. After December 31, 2019, fulfillment for TOOLBOX™ products and training will occur through the for-profit enterprise Toolbox Project, LLC., owned and operated by Mark A. Collin.
- Dovetail Learning is a leader in customizing solutions for developing resilience in adults and children. We provide social and emotional learning (SEL) offerings and school system improvements that transform students and staff from the inside out. Through appreciative inquiry, we foster resilience and self-management to help improve mental health, school climate, and community wellness. We know that strengthening adults’ SEL competency is essential to both building children’s resilience and creating a world of kind, connected human beings.
- Through partnerships and a focus on innovation, we will be offering a range of products that serve a broad community, including educators, health care providers, and corporations. Our core team will continue to provide outstanding training, superior customer service and focused product development. Our core differentiator will be our ability to provide customized solutions for developing resilience and social emotional learning (SEL).
- Our values guide us to support the human development of all people. This is leading us to building an SEL product for adults and children that will be an “open educational resource (OER),” freely accessible to anyone who wants it.
- This is a transformational moment for Dovetail Learning, as it expands toward a complete package of SEL products and services to enable our customers to grow and evolve into the schools and organizations they aspire to become.
WHY is it happening?
- We could not reach a nonprofit-compliant and sustainable agreement with Toolbox Project, LLC to continue to represent TOOLBOX™.
- As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Dovetail Learning must abide by strict regulations to ensure compliance for the public good and ensure against benefit going to one individual or entity. In addition, as a business that has proven its ability to scale, Dovetail Learning needs the freedom to work in expanded markets and to quickly adapt and customize its products for unique clients.
- This change in product representation provides Dovetail Learning with an exciting opportunity to build on our decades of staff experience understanding what children, families, educators and organizations need to develop resilience and offer it to the world in the biggest, most impactful way possible.
- As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to achieving our vision of creating a world of kind, connected human beings and committed to ensuring our customers have the best possible services and products at a cost that balances the need for sustainability and affordability.
WHAT does this mean for Customers?
- After December 31, 2019, fulfillment for TOOLBOX™ products and training will occur through the for-profit enterprise Toolbox Project, LLC., owned and operated by Mark A. Collin.
- Our strategy and business practices have always included a philosophy of partnership not product. As we diversify the products and services in our portfolio to better serve our philosophy and the needs of our partners, you can expect customized solutions for developing resilience and social and emotional learning in your unique setting.
- Customers can feel confident that Dovetail Learning has their needs front and center, as we address all of the issues for your adoption of SEL. We are continuing to provide training and coaching in these areas:
- Adoption and Implementation of SEL programs
- SEL Practices for Staff Development: Whole Teacher—Whole Child Approach
- Making sense of the Alphabet soup: MTSS, PBIS, and RTI—Turn theory into practice
- Resilient Discipline: The Paradigm Shift Away from Behavioral Approaches
- Trauma-Transformed Learning
- Making SEL Assessment Easy and Accessible
- Ongoing Coaching for Leadership Teams
- Customized Resilience Strategies For Unique Settings
- (Coming in 2020): An open education resource SEL product that supports your WHOLE school community--educators, children, families and others.
- Customers will continue to experience the same level of superior customer service, outstanding training, student empowerment, and product focus they’ve seen from us, as the core Dovetail Learning staff are committed to its future. The Dovetail Learning leaders are excited to continue to serve our clients. The Dovetail Learning board is extremely committed to our new vision and has years of experience with organizational and business transition.
- Dovetail Learning will continue to invest in research and development so that you will have access to the best products and services that support resilience for your whole community.
- Customers will benefit in knowing that the new Dovetail SEL product will build on the learnings and experiences over the past 10 years.
- Please let us know how we can best serve you now and in the future.
Obtaining Support for TOOLBOX™
Q: What is Toolbox Project LLC?
A: Toolbox Project, LLC. is a for-profit organization created three years ago by Mark A. Collin at the same time a license agreement to use TOOLBOX™ by Dovetail Learning was created.
Q: How long will it take before Toolbox Project LLC can operationally support TOOLBOX? What kind of support will that be? Will I be able to get the same TOOLBOX™ products and training that have available from Dovetail Learning? Toolbox Project LLC will be leading full TOOLBOX™ implementations as of January 1, 2020. Please contact them directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn more about how they plan to work with existing and new customers.
Q: Will the Educator’s Resource Portal still be available after December 31, 2019?
We expect no disruption of service at this time. Dovetail Learning cannot guarantee that you will receive support for using the portal after December 31, 2019. Please contact Toolbox Project LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn about future portal plans.
Q: What are the benefits TOOLBOX™ customers gain from this announcement? Dovetail Learning will be providing a wide range of consulting and coaching services to improve SEL implementation. In 2020, we will be offering a new SEL product developed from extensive feedback we have received from educators and organizational leaders to better support the SEL needs of adults and children, that will continue to be served by our core leadership, training, management and development staff. We believe this new product will meet your needs in a deeper way. In January you can learn more about our new product offering by visiting us at www.dovetaillearning.org
Q: We just purchased TOOLBOX™. Why were we not notified about this change before our purchase?
Until this public announcement, we have not be able to communicate about this change. We have been in a typical “quiet period”, working through the details of the transition with Toolbox Project LLC. We apologize for any problems this may cause.
Q: We have invested lots of money and time in TOOLBOX™ and have integrated it across our school system. What are we supposed to do now?
We applaud your choice in selecting TOOLBOX! You have selected a great SEL program which is why we represented it for 10 years. What we have learned in helping schools implement TOOLBOX™ is that your success comes from the people implementing the program--how you implement the program and modify your systems to support SEL.
First, although we will not provide TOOLBOX™ specific training after Dec 31, 2019, we would love to continue our partnership with you, helping you with coaching, strategic planning and execution and general SEL implementation. We recommend that you learn about and consider our new services which can help you “till the soil” to ready your staff to better implement SEL initiatives and to help strategize and execute a more integrated discipline approach to your SEL initiatives.
Finally, we recommend you partner with us as we develop our new SEL product, especially if you are interested in enhancing your SEL solution, such as a built in easy-to-implement assessment.
Q: We have been working on our TOOLBOX™ implementation and would like Dovetail Learning to train us in the spring. Is there any way Dovetail Learning can provide us with training in the spring?
While Dovetail Learning cannot provide TOOLBOX-specific training after December 31, 2019, we are happy to provide coaching or professional development in SEL implementation, SEL skills for your staff and how to modify your systems to ensure SEL moves beyond a curriculum to a culture.
Q: Where will the Toolbox Project, LLC team be located?
You can contact Toolbox Project, LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn more about the plans for their organization.
Q: Can I get digital versions of the products, icons, etc for our own purposes/to print banners, etc?
We cannot answer this question, as it is a copyright issue that is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Any questions of this kind need to go to Toolbox Project, LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com.
A: Toolbox Project, LLC. is a for-profit organization created three years ago by Mark A. Collin at the same time a license agreement to use TOOLBOX™ by Dovetail Learning was created.
Q: How long will it take before Toolbox Project LLC can operationally support TOOLBOX? What kind of support will that be? Will I be able to get the same TOOLBOX™ products and training that have available from Dovetail Learning? Toolbox Project LLC will be leading full TOOLBOX™ implementations as of January 1, 2020. Please contact them directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn more about how they plan to work with existing and new customers.
Q: Will the Educator’s Resource Portal still be available after December 31, 2019?
We expect no disruption of service at this time. Dovetail Learning cannot guarantee that you will receive support for using the portal after December 31, 2019. Please contact Toolbox Project LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn about future portal plans.
Q: What are the benefits TOOLBOX™ customers gain from this announcement? Dovetail Learning will be providing a wide range of consulting and coaching services to improve SEL implementation. In 2020, we will be offering a new SEL product developed from extensive feedback we have received from educators and organizational leaders to better support the SEL needs of adults and children, that will continue to be served by our core leadership, training, management and development staff. We believe this new product will meet your needs in a deeper way. In January you can learn more about our new product offering by visiting us at www.dovetaillearning.org
Q: We just purchased TOOLBOX™. Why were we not notified about this change before our purchase?
Until this public announcement, we have not be able to communicate about this change. We have been in a typical “quiet period”, working through the details of the transition with Toolbox Project LLC. We apologize for any problems this may cause.
Q: We have invested lots of money and time in TOOLBOX™ and have integrated it across our school system. What are we supposed to do now?
We applaud your choice in selecting TOOLBOX! You have selected a great SEL program which is why we represented it for 10 years. What we have learned in helping schools implement TOOLBOX™ is that your success comes from the people implementing the program--how you implement the program and modify your systems to support SEL.
First, although we will not provide TOOLBOX™ specific training after Dec 31, 2019, we would love to continue our partnership with you, helping you with coaching, strategic planning and execution and general SEL implementation. We recommend that you learn about and consider our new services which can help you “till the soil” to ready your staff to better implement SEL initiatives and to help strategize and execute a more integrated discipline approach to your SEL initiatives.
Finally, we recommend you partner with us as we develop our new SEL product, especially if you are interested in enhancing your SEL solution, such as a built in easy-to-implement assessment.
Q: We have been working on our TOOLBOX™ implementation and would like Dovetail Learning to train us in the spring. Is there any way Dovetail Learning can provide us with training in the spring?
While Dovetail Learning cannot provide TOOLBOX-specific training after December 31, 2019, we are happy to provide coaching or professional development in SEL implementation, SEL skills for your staff and how to modify your systems to ensure SEL moves beyond a curriculum to a culture.
Q: Where will the Toolbox Project, LLC team be located?
You can contact Toolbox Project, LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com to learn more about the plans for their organization.
Q: Can I get digital versions of the products, icons, etc for our own purposes/to print banners, etc?
We cannot answer this question, as it is a copyright issue that is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Any questions of this kind need to go to Toolbox Project, LLC directly at info@toolboxproject.com.
New Dovetail Learning Services and Products
(Available as of July 2019)
Q: What are your new products and services?
- Adoption and Implementation of SEL programs
- SEL Practices for Staff Development: Whole Teacher—Whole Child Approach
- Making sense of the Alphabet soup: MTSS, PBIS, and RTI—Turn theory into practice
- Resilient Discipline: The Paradigm Shift Away from Behavioral Approaches
- Trauma-Transformed Learning
- Making SEL Assessment Easy and Accessible
- Ongoing Coaching for Leadership Teams
- Customized Resilience Strategies For Unique Settings
New Product (Available in 2020)
An open education resource SEL product that supports your WHOLE school community--educators, children, families and others.
- Q: What will the new SEL product be? What is it called? We have not yet settled on a final name for the new Dovetail Learning SEL product. Sign up for our newsletters, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram if you want to learn about the new product as we name and test it. It will feature appreciative inquiry, designed to develop resilience for both adults and chidlren. Since it will be an Open Educational Resource, it will be available for free so you can try it easily.
- Q: When will it be launched? We will have “sneak peaks” starting in January. We expect to have our core product available for free and supporting materials available for purchase in the spring, so educators can use it 2020-21 school year.
- Q: What is an “Open Education Resource”? Will it really be free?
Our favorite answer is to say that Open Educational Resources are “free like a puppy.” If someone gives you a free puppy, you know this new “free” friend still comes with care and feeding needs, which won’t come free. The same can be said of our openly-licensed SEL product: schools and districts will be able to download the openly-licensed core product and use the materials for free. Yet educators know that implementing a new core program comes with investment—in time, training, and support materials. So if you love the product (and we think you will!) you probably will make some investments in professional development, printed materials, and auxiliary materials to support your implementation. - Q: Can I be involved in the development of this new product? Yes! We know our product and curricula will need educator feedback and beta testers. Sign up today at program@dovetaillearning.org.
