Northeastern Illinois University 5500 Nowy Sr. Louis AVENUE Ceaco, TAINO 60625-4059 73 / 42.8980 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, MEDIA & THEATRE March 19, 2008 Dear Educator: In the fall of 2004 Jessica Deren was selected for the College of Arts and Sciences Education Program (CASEP) for pre-service teachers at Northeastern Illinois University. Through CASEP Jessica has had the unique opportunity of beginning her teacher training during her first year of college The focus of CASEP is to create high quality teachers who make teaching their life long career. The program requires an application, an essay, and an interview. In addition, the selection committee also takes into consideration the applicant’s academic background. One of CASEP's most unique qualities is that for the first two years of college students take the majority of their classes together in a cohort. We have discovered that this approach is extremely effective at a commuter university in enhancing a student's, attachment to the university community. < Jessica exemplifies CASEP’s standards of excellence and commitment to creating high quality educators. She manifests this through her academic ability (Dean’s List), her humanitarian work in South Africa, her extensive field experience during her first year of college, and her full year two hour per day elementary school internship, while she was a senior at Prospect High School. Jessica Deren is a highly motivated, goal oriented, independent and life long leamer, who also works well in a collaborative setting, She maintains a clear and focused vision in her pursuit of a career in education, and through CASEP she has reaped the opportunities that have enriched her teacher training. Jessica Deren has my unqualified support and recommendation. I feel confident that she will become an outstanding teacher. Sincerely, KL Blair Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences Education Program Department of Communication, Media, & Theatre Northeastern Illinois University