July 10, 2015

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to recommend Ms. Maria Freed for a teaching position at your school. Ms. Freed was my
student in three classes in the M.S.Ed. TESOL program at Lehman College from 20013-15. Having
served five years as a language analyst and trainer in the U.S. Navy and graduated Cum Laude with a
B.A. in Linguistics and a minor in Spanish, Ms Freed was extremely well prepared for the rigors of the
M.S.Ed TESOL program at Lehman College.
Ms. Freed consistently performed in the top 5% of her class, immersing herself in the topics we
discussed. She was always open to new ideas, and accepting of constructive criticism. In particular, I
remember her interest in African American English and her eagerness to explore how teachers in urban
schools can appreciate and build on the linguistic diversity they encounter in their classrooms. For one
class I taught on Second Language Acquisition, Ms. Freed wrote a first-rate research paper on learning
theory and how motivation, and anxiety affect students in the second language classroom. This
assignment and virtually every assignment she completed in my classes were indicative of her desire and
ability to complete outstanding work. Ms. Freed’s online teaching portfolio, completed for the last class
she took with me, is a testament to her hard work and development as an ESL educator over the course
of the program. It contains thoughtful reflections and high quality examples of her academic work in the
program.
Based on Ms. Freed’s outstanding performance as a student, the maturity with which she approaches her
role as a teacher, and her exceptional teaching portfolio, I am fully confident in Ms. Freed’s ability to
succeed in a self-contained ESL or a mixed content area classroom. She is dedicated to learning and
improving her teaching practice. She has an extensive and commendable academic record. She is a team
player, interacts easily with others, and is highly disciplined. All of these attributes will serve her well in the
classroom.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Dr. Cecelia Cutler

Associate Professor
Department of Middle & High School Education
The City University of New York, Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West
Bronx, NY 10468
718.960.8018
Fax: 718.960.7272