June 2, 2017

I am very pleased to recommend Ms. April Marini for a Mathematics teaching position. During the
Spring Quarter, 2017, April did her student teaching at Von Steuben Metro High School in Chicago; I
served as her University Supervisor from DePaul University. I thought that April had an excellent
student teaching experience, and I feel that she is prepared to make a significant contribution to the
teaching profession.

During April's student teaching I observed her on four different occasions, and I feel that she did a
really nice job creating a learning environment where her students were active learners, and were
motivated to want to participate in class activities. Her lessons were extremely well-organized, and she
structured them to meet the needs of her students. She varied her teaching tactics: I observed April
explaining material in an almost lecture format; having students work in groups on problem-solving;
and having the entire class work in a team format when solving problems. April did a very good job of
questioning students; she prodded them to answer more fully, and she did an especially nice job of
dignifying all responses, so a student who might have been incorrect wouldn't hesitate to participate
again. She did a really nice job of pacing her lessonsshe didn't proceed too quickly, or talk too
slowly, and her students were engaged. No matter what was planned, April challenged her students, and
tried hard to ensure that they understood very difficult concepts. April's classroom management skills
were really good, and she showed steady improvement in this area as the quarter progressed. April was
calm and confident when asking her students to be focused, and they seemed to respond well to her
demeanor. Her students knew that their success in learning was very important to her, and they
positively responded to her.

April was very professional in her approach to becoming a good teacher throughout her student
teaching experience. She would take the necessary time to prepare lessons and grade assignments, and
she clearly understands the time and effort demands required of excellent educators. April developed an
excellent collaborative relationship with both of her cooperating teachers, and she was always receptive
to any suggestions or critiques of her teaching made by either of her cooperating teachers or by me.
April definitely grew as an educator during her student teaching, and I feel a major part of that was her
willingness to self-evaluate, reflect on her teaching, and use different tactics, when appropriate, in her
teaching. I am extremely confident that April will be an excellent Math Department member, who will
work well with her colleagues.

I am extremely happy to recommend Ms. April Marini for a Mathematics position; she possesses the
intellect, the passion for teaching, and the drive to become an excellent teacher. April grew as an
educator throughout this quarter, and I am very confident that she will continue to grow as an educator
in the future. I enjoyed working with April this quarter, and sincerely feel that she has a lot to give a
Math Department in future years.

Sincerely yours,

Gerald R. Levine
DePaul University
gerald454@comcast.net