Education Department

Teacher Intern Program Instructor/Facilitator

1501 Morningside Avenue
Sioux City, Iowa 51106

Martin L. Peterson
1406 Idlewood Drive
Denison, Iowa 51442
(712) 263-5574 (home)
(712) 269-0919 (cell)

April 14, 2015

peterson.larry@mchsi.com

Dr. Rita Vannatta

Director of Human Resources
Sioux City Community Schools
627 4th Street
Sioux City, IA 51101

Nicole Coughlin, a member of my 2014 -15 Morningside College Teacher Intern Program, is
preparing applications for Iowa science teaching positions. As the lead instructor of the Teacher
Intern program, I believe Ms Coughlin will bring a wealth of qualifications to your science program: real-world work experience as a health professional, classroom field experience gained
at Sioux City West High and North Middle Schools; and current research-based pedagogical
knowledge obtained through the Morningside program which is based on the InTASC teaching
standards.
The state legislature and the Board of Educational Examiners created the Teacher Intern Program in 2008 in response to high teacher shortage areas such as science. The program provides alternative certification for secondary classroom teachers and meets the same educational
competencies as Iowas traditionally prepared teachers but in an alternative format. By June of
2015, Ms Coughlin will have completed twelve semester hours in instructional design, assessment, methods of teaching, and classroom management for secondary teachers; fifty hours of
active classroom field experiences in both middle and high schools; and practice in curriculum
writing, lesson planning, and direct teaching. The Iowa BOEE will then approve her Intern
Teaching License as a teacher of record for the 2015 -16 school year. During that year, Ms
Coughlin will complete her Morningside course work and be eligible for the Iowa Initial Teaching
License in June of 2016.
We screen all applicants to the Morningside Teacher Intern program and admit only those who
show the potential to become great classroom teachers. I believe Nicole Coughlin possesses
the qualifications to fulfill that role. Comments from her Field Experience cooperating teacher
illustrate the point: Engaged students with questioning and a great visual aid; on top of the lesson and the students; Well prepared, knew the content; Great interaction with the students.
During the past year I have observed her determination, scholarship, self-confidence, and empathy for the needs of children and can without doubt recommend her for a teaching position in
your school district.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our program and the preparation
Ms Coughlin has received.
Sincerely,

Martin L. Peterson, Morningside College Teacher Intern Instructor/Facilitator