Dr. Jerry A.

Caster
932 29th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-225-2016
cjeanjerry@aol.com
March 27, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Molly McClelland

I am Mollys student teaching supervisor and it is a pleasure to write a letter of

recommendation for her. Prior to working with student teachers, I was a special
education supervisor and then principal of two schools serving disabled
students in the Des Moines Schools.
Molly is completing her student teaching at Valley Southwoods and is working
with Jill George. She is demonstrating all of the skills that one would expect of a
competent teacher. She plans well, is organized, has a good sense of
instructional design and relates well to her students. I really like her interaction
style with the students. There is always a clear instructional focus, and the
interaction is always engaging and supportive of students. She effectively
communicates expectations and students respect her authority.
Molly is having a very successful experience at Valley Southwoods. She is so
competent that both Jill and I agreed at the mid-term that Molly was really
ready to have her own classroom. This is only reasonable because Molly has
done subbing in the West Des Moines Schools and has spend a lot of time in the
high school special education program. When she starts her career she will be
far beyond any beginning teacher Ive seen in terms of professional maturity.
One of the things Molly brought to Southwoods is an understanding of
transition issues that students face when they move on to the high school. She
has taken it on herself to create a program that she can use to help her current
students begin to prepare for the transition. What makes it significant to me is
that she identified the need and addressed it very quickly. Her level of
independence and self-direction is at a higher level than Im accustomed to
seeing in beginning teachers. Im really impressed by what she has done.
Molly is a very bright and talented person who is hooked on working with
students with special needs. She has a commitment to help students become
independent and to learn to self-advocate that Ive always seen in my very best
teachers. Those things, plus her ability to work with students, parents and
other staff will make her very successful. Shell be an asset to any special
education program and the entire school. I recommend her with no
reservations whatsoever.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Sincerely,

Jerry A. Caster
Jerry A. Caster, Supervisor of Student Teaching
Drake University