Luke D.

Hands
Edwin O. Smith High School
1235 Storrs Road
Storrs-Mansfield, CT 06268
lhands@eosmith.org

10-19-2017

To Whom It May Concern,

I highly recommend Sarah Norman as a candidate for teacher at your school. Ms. Norman very successfully completed
her student teaching experience at E.O. Smith High School. She spent the entire year observing, assisting, and teaching in
my U.S. History and World Civilizations classes at both our general education level and our honors level. Our school has
a diverse student population and all of our classes are heterogeneously grouped, which offers a challenge to even our most
experienced teachers. Sarah did a wonderful job following IEP’s and 504’s while making adjustments to her materials
and lessons in order to reach every student in the room. She also regularly attended IEP and 504 meetings with me to
inform parents of student progress even though she did not have to.

Ms. Norman's warm personality and rapport with the students were excellent. Her knowledge of the subject was noticed
by many faculty members in our department. Her willingness to take suggestions, modify lessons, and experiment with
new strategies demonstrated her motivation and reflection about teaching and learning. She took the challenge of creating
her own curriculum with amazing results. Her lessons inspired me to make several changes in own approach to teaching
and learning.

She was able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and faculty. She displayed many fine personal and
professional qualities normally attributed to outstanding teachers. She carried out her responsibilities in a responsible and
dependable manner and consistently asked to participate in after-school activities and teacher events when she did not
have to.

During the semester, Ms. Norman took responsibility for three classes and assumed the duties of planning and teaching
multiple units of her own creation. Because of her creativity and enthusiasm for the subject, students responded positively
to her lessons. Her students' grades in the areas she presented were impressive and showed growth during her teaching
time. Her ability to manage a daily routine and the classroom discipline that relates to that were exemplary.

Sarah Norman is an excellent candidate for your school. She has tremendous initiative, a desire to continue to learn, and a
reflective practitioner outlook. Along with her command of the subject area and her effective teaching strategies with
adolescents, she is a model of an excellent teacher. I would strongly encourage you to interview and to give serious
consideration to this prospective teacher. She would be an asset to any History department.

Sincerely,

Luke D. Hands