By way of introduction, I am a friend of Andrea Duplessis. She recommended that I contact you.

I recently applied for the assistant position posted by the Louis Armstrong Museum. I am a recently retired school teacher who for decades facilitated cultural arts programming in the Paterson (N.J.) Public School District. Although officially a Speech & Language Therapist in that District, I initiated a district-wide cultural arts program featuring primarily jazz and Latin-jazz. That position was unofficial…but it was my passion to help inculcate an interest in what I firmly believe is ‘America’s original art form.’ I took a one year leave of absence in 1980 to teach in the New Orleans Parish School District. For that year, I was an informal consultant to jazz programming at radio station WTUL (Tulane U.). I had had previous radio experience at WFMU in East Orange, N.J.
In any event, Pops has always been my keen interest since….seventh grade (thanx to the late Ed Beach whom I was able to befriend). When I was forwarded the posted position, it was a catharsis. Andrea suggested that I contact you personally. As a retired school teacher, I hardly require any benefits….certainly not in health care.
I believe that I would be the perfect candidate. I would appreciate if you could either contact me via e-mail or at home (845) 986-6463 so that I can more clearly delineate my qualifications and arrange for a time we can personally meet.
Several years ago I was afforded a private tour of the museum. As a latent historian, the experience was vicarious!
Hope to hear from you soon.

Russ Layne