About the Creator:  Barbara Gilmour

Barbara Gilmour was raised in a family in which good manners were taught and practiced.  She has a degree in Home Economics, with a major in Retailing and Fashion Merchandising, from Pennsylvania State University where she received etiquette instruction. 

In the mid 1990’s, she spent a year researching and writing two 10-hour courses, Manners for Kids 8-12 and Manners for Teens, and she started a business teaching these courses locally.  She then spent several years expanding the content of the course for younger children to include character values and the “Cool Kind Kid” Concept in order to reach more children.  This content has been incorporated into the Tanner’s Manners:  Be a “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills and Character Values Curriculum, Elementary School Edition.

Co-Author and Educational Consultant:  Sydelle Mason, Ed.D

Sydelle Mason received her doctorate in education from Rutgers University.  She is accomplished in many areas of education, including directing both for-profit and non-profit organizations.  She is currently Vice President of Professional Development for Vantage Learning.  Some of the areas of expertise she brings to Tanner’s Manners include strategic planning, business and professional staff development, curriculum development, and educational consulting. 

Co-Author, Editor, and Educational Consultant:  Wendy McDermott, Ph.D.        

Wendy McDermott has a doctorate in linguistics from Cornell University.  After 25 years of teaching at the elementary, secondary, and university levels, she went to work as an Assessment Specialist for Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ.  She is currently the president of GoodSense English, a company that provides test development services and educational consulting, as well as editing and writing services for researchers who speak English as a second language.  Some of the areas of expertise she brings to Tanner’s Manners include curriculum development and familiarity with cultural sensitivity and fairness issues.