Thornton High School

9351 N. Washington Thornton, CO 80229-3533 Office: (720) 972-4800 Fax: (720) 972-4999

To Whom It May Concern: I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for my colleague and friend, Heather Smith, for the visual art teacher position at your school. I have had the opportunity to mentor and work with Heather for the past year in the art department at Thornton High School. Heather is a dynamic art teacher who strives to encompass all types of learners in her classroom. She has written curriculum for the new Colorado Visual Arts Standards and designs her lessons to incorporate relevant cultural concepts and social issues. Her classroom is a place that fosters student collaboration and students feel safe to take risks in their artwork. Heather is also an excellent artist. Not only does she demonstrate a great understanding in a variety of media, but she is also a practicing artist who shares her love of creating art with her students. She builds relationships with students quickly, learning what each student is interested in so she can best fit their creative needs. Heather is eager and willing to learn new strategies both artistically and academically to create the best classroom environment possible. This being her first year as a teacher, she has quickly learned how to adjust her teaching practices to suit her classroom management and the needs of our school. Heathers service to the school extends into our community. She participates in many after school events including art shows, open houses and spends much of her free time acting as the Freshman class sponsor which requires her to volunteer for many school events. I highly recommend Heather for the visual art teacher position at your school. I am confident that her passion for the arts and commitment to quality education will complement any program. Please contact me if you need anything further. Sincerely,

Elizabeth Manning Visual Arts Teacher and Department Chair Thornton High School 9351 N. Washington St Thornton, Co 80229 720-972-4837