Reference Letter for Katelyn Anderson Dear Administrator, April 25, 2017 My name is Jennifer Hayden, and | am a third grade teacher at Edwin W. Chittum Elementary School in Chesapeake, Virginia. | have been in education for over 25 years and have taught in Connecticut, Colorado, and Virginia. | have held various positions over the years, including classroom teacher for grades 1-5, gifted and talented education coordinator, lead teacher for a primary school, and currently a third grade teacher with a population of special education and ED students. Katelyn is my student teacher. She is extraordinary! To find such a young person who is so dedicated, creative, and knowledgeable in education, is truly remarkable! She is making a difference in the lives of the students in my class. Her lesson plans are extensive, comprehensive, and differentiated. She carries them out as a veteran teacher would. She created and taught a unit on ancient Greece that ended with a “visit” from an ancient Greek. The students were totally engaged, and their knowledge showed in the best social studies test scores they have had all year. She also took initiative to teach the students to have group discussions on moral dilemmas. They are engaged and having successful, respectful discussions. 1am very impressed with her classroom management skills. | have 30 students with a variety of needs and several students with severe emotional considerations. Katelyn is patient and caring, and | have never heard a disparaging comment from her. She treats each child with respect and dignity. She is the kind of teacher | would want for my own children. She is one of the first in our building in the mornings, and one of the last to leave each day. She is eager to assist everyone, and she does so without hesitation. People enter the profession for a myriad of reasons, all thinking that they will be good at teaching. Katelyn is truly a natural teacher. tt is clear from her short time in my classroom that she will have a very successful career. It is with great respect that | highly recommend Katelyn Anderson for any classroom teacher : nn - contact information is Sincerely, pf ctph Jennifer eas