Ryser & A 869 Rye Country Day School, Cedar Street, Rye, New York 10580-2034 + (914) 967-1417 « Fax (914) 967-1418 Zoe Oppenheimer Recommendation March 2016 Thave had the pleasure of working with Zoe for two years at the Rye Country Day School. One of those years we shared a second grade classroom where she served as an assistant teacher. Zoe Oppenheimer is an excellent educator of the whole child. Her success shines through with the effort she puts forth with every read-aloud, lesson, and interaction she has with the students in her care, Zoe is a talented teacher with a refreshingly positive attitude and willingness to grow and learn. Zoe not only demonstrates a command of subject matter, but also interacts with students and facilitates class discussion in a manner consistent with an experienced teacher. Students clearly respect her and respond to her approaches to classroom management. Zoe knows her students, cares about them, and is an enthusiastic presence in their lives. These connections allow her to create a safe space for students to completely participate in the learning process knowing that they can take chances in class, and that they have the support of their teacher. Zoe is also adept at creating a student-centered classroom that enables her students to learn through experience. Her lessons are thoughtfully planned with regard to scope and sequence but, more importantly, Zoe's lessons allow every student to grow and thrive as a learner. Zoe's commitment extends well beyond the classroom. She makes considerable contributions to our lower school community. Her positive personality and unending desire to better the school make her an extremely valuable member of our faculty. Zoe balances a demanding schedule, teaching full time and earning her master’s degree, while eagerly participating in various professional growth opportunities, including planning with teachers, attending faculty meetings, participating in professional development on literacy, offering mini-camps and conducting parent teacher conferences, I'm impressed with Zoe’s curiosity and willingness to grow, and her complete immersion in the subject matter. To say the Ze is a dedicated employee is an understatement. In closing, Zoe Oppenheimer is friendly, confident, and an extremely hard worker. She is an excellent educator and will make significant contributions to any school and community. Caryn Olson 2™ Grade Teacher Rye Country Day School Rye, NY caryn_olson@ryecountryday.org