January 11, 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

I write to recommend Jessica Riesel for a teaching position at your school. I served as the instructor for
Jessicas student teaching seminar for fall 2015 and admire her knowledge and skills as a beginning
teacher.
This fall, Jessica served as a student teacher in both a special education inclusion classroom for grades
7- 12 at Cooperstown Central School and as a 11th and 12th grade math teacher at Oneonta High School.
In her first placement, Jessica spoke often in class about raising the bar for her special education
students. I was particularly impressed by her ability to read IEPs and adapt her lessons individually for
each student. In class, she stressed the importance of developing students self-advocacy skills. In her
A.P. Calculus class at Oneonta High School, Jessica delivered challenging content to a high-powered
class. She earned her students respect as she strove to provide each of them with individual support.
In our fall seminar, Jessica was a leader in discussions and reflection. She served as a role model for her
peers and provided valuable feedback in planning, videotaping and reflecting on lessons for the rigorous
requirements of EdTPA. Her unique experience teaching English in Nepal also provided a basis for
intercultural comparisons and added a new dimension to our discussions.
Jessica is a talented young teacher. I know she will be an asset to any school system. Please do not
hesitate to contact me at cooperc@hartwick.edu or at 607-431-4422 if I can offer any further insight.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Cooper
Instructor, Education Department
Global Education and Service Learning Advisor
Hartwick College