BRADLEY UNIVERSITY ‘This letter of recommendation is for Ms. Gabrielle (Gabby) Visconti, a student teacher at Bradley University in Peoria, IL during the spring semester of 2017. | have served as her university supervisor during this time. She has done an absolutely outstanding job in her student teaching and she has been a real pleasure to supervise. Ms. Visconti is an early childhood education major at Bradley. What an appropriate major for someone as enthusiastic and skilled at teaching young students! Gabby's student teaching placement is at Hickory Grove Elementary Schoo! in first grade in Dunlap IL. This school district has been noted for its academic achievement by US News and World Report magazine, and expectations are high throughout the district. Gabby has stepped in and has continued meeting their expectations with excellent lessons, learning activities that promote thinking, and positive engagement of her students. I have made a number of visits to her classroom and each time, without fal, she has been at the top of her game in teaching her students. Age appropriate learning activities, organized group work and positive engagement, and a nurturing classroom environment are some of the positive traits that she has exhibited in her teaching. An overall atmosphere of acceptance, of learning and a positive and safe environment for her students has been created. Add to this an extremely supportive cooperating teacher and mentor, a first grade team that accepts Ms. Visconti as one of their own, and students who love her teaching and her presence and it has made for an exceptionally great student teaching experience both for Gabby and her students. As student teaching university supervisor, it has been ‘the best environment for me to see each time | make a visit to her class, One thing that | believe makes this all possible is the type of person that Gabby is. She is dependable, punctual and committed. Sometimes student teachers have a tough time making the transition from ‘the university mode to the full time teaching mode. Gabby has done this in a most excellent fashion and has accepted, without excuses or complaints, the amount of work that has been assigned to her. She hhas successfully completed her EDTPA certification requirement, has always been prepared to teach creative lessons and give her best to her students, and has continually met the requirements involved in her student teaching course. That dependability tells me that as a staff member in your school she will do the exact same thing —- positively contribute and be a team player for the good of the staff and students. Lastly and probably the most important, Ms. Visconti has the exact type of personality for teaching. She is an outstanding people person. Very easy to get along with, talks objectively about teaching and classroom issues, and isn’t afraid to dive in and do hard work. She loves children and it shows each minute she is with them. | have grandchildren that are the age Gabby is teaching and I wouldn't hesitate for one second to have them in a classroom where she was the teacher. After eleven years of student teaching supervision at Bradley, Gabrielle Visconti is one of the top student teachers | have ever supervised. Any school district that hires her will be making a positive move to add a qualified, personable and capable staff member. She is outstanding in every way. ‘Steven J. Garrison Bradley University Student Teaching supervisor 309-264-9062 CLINICAL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE + COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES {S01 WEST BRADLEY AVENUE + PEORIA, ILLINOIS 61625-0364 + (309) 677-3183 + FAX (308) 677-2952