N E U Q U A

V A L L E Y

Main Building: 2360 95th St, Naperville, IL 60564

(630) 428-6000 Fax: (630) 428-6001

H I G H

S C H O O L

Freshman Building: 3220 Cedar Glade, Naperville, IL 60564

(630) 428-6400 Fax: (630) 428-6401

February 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to recommend Jeffrey Ryan Leist for the position of English/Fine Arts
Division Chair. Mr. Leist has been a member of our English Department at Neuqua Valley High School for the
past seven years. I cannot think of anyone in his department with more instructional or leadership experience,
and for that matter, I cannot think of many teachers I seen who have equally excelled in the classroom and in
the process of organizing people and events. Mr. Leist has done everything one would expect him to do to
prepare for a division chair position.
In the classroom, he is a catalyst for learning. I have visited his classes many times for informal walkthrough
observations. There is always energy, purpose, and humor. At the same time his classroom can have a
convivial feel, students understand that what they are writing, reading, analyzing, or discussing is important and
worth knowing. Mr. Leist is expert at helping students see their work in language arts as part of a continuum of
their total education, allowing them to understand texts and writing well beyond Shakespeare and Dickens. Mr.
Leist teaches at our Gold Building, where all of our freshman students are located. He teaches freshmen all day,
and one might think that this would dull his pedagogy. Quite the opposite, he brings an excitement and
understanding to 9th graders that is refreshing and informed by his belief that getting their schooling right during
their freshman year is critical to their success, his departments success, and our schools success.
Mr. Leist has done far more than express an interest in being a leader. Long before he achieved his Type 75
endorsement, he volunteered for many critical leadership roles at our Gold Building. He has been at the helm of
our annual Freshman Orientation many years. He has interacted with freshman parents through our School
Partnership Council, using their feedback on everything from freshman transition from 8th grade to the pace and
volume of homework freshman year. His assistance has been invaluable in organizing our annual Veterans
Honor Ceremony. He has been a director and assistant director in our theatre program, putting in hours and
hours of work with students, rehearsals, and sets. Three years ago, he directed the spring musical that most
agree is the best production our school has ever staged in its 16-year history.
Three years ago, two important leadership positions became available at our school: Theatre Director and
Department Chair Assistant for the English Department. Each position is an expansive job. The Theatre
Director is responsible for all aspects of theatre performance at our school. The Department Chair Assistant
works directly with our English Department Chair to lead the department and specifically lead, evaluate, and
mentor the staff members at our freshman building. Consulting with my administrative team, we thought Mr.
Leist would be ideal for each, and indeed, after interviewing, he was the consensus candidate for both positions.
As such, I decided to allow him to pick which position would suit him, and to my surprise, he was willing to
tackle both. Although initially concerned about how these roles might stretch his capacity, I have to report now
how glad I am that Mr. Leist took the initiative to take on both of these roles. He has flourished. The teachers
at our Gold Building respect him as a leader, thinker, and servant towards their success. He has become an
Robert
McBride,Jr.
Principal

Lance
Fuhrer
Assistant Principal

Mark
Kolkman
Assistant Principal

Maree
Russavage
Assistant Principal

David
Perry
Assistant
Principal

Barb
Barrows
Athletic Director

important voice on the leadership team at our Gold Building and within our broader Instructional Leadership
Team. As a Theatre Director, he understands how to support and mentor other directors without over managing
their efforts.
Simply put, I believe you will find the same initiative, energy, dedication, and humor if you interviewand
hireMr. Leist. Based on what I have seen in the classroom and from his leadership, he would be an
outstanding candidate for your position and school.
If you have any further questions about Mr. Leist, please do not hesitate to contact me at 630-428-6010.

Sincerely,

Robert McBride
Principal, Neuqua Valley High School

Robert
McBride,Jr.
Principal

Lance
Fuhrer
Assistant Principal

Mark
Kolkman
Assistant Principal

Maree
Russavage
Assistant Principal

David
Perry
Assistant
Principal

Barb
Barrows
Athletic Director