OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES TAMMY WOOD, Director February 15, 2018 To Whom at ace Mrs, Laura Vanlacken has requested that | write a letter of recommendation foran administrative application to your organization. tam most pleased todo0. {have worked with Mrs, VanLacken for over a decade and ean speak to her value, dedication and leadership qualities to students and staf of Midlakes. When [first met Mrs: VanLacken, she was an elementary teacher and high school varsity cheerleading coach and [ vas high school teacher, Our paths crossed with the high schoolers I taught, and she coached. I saw a coach who had high expectations for her squad and accepted nothing but their best at games and competitions. Athletes who are lucky enough to have her as a coach and mentor were held accountable for their behavior and work production. Each team she had was a scholar athlete team that she motivated with firmness and understanding, Most of these students keep in touch With her and have a respect forthe role she played in shaping them as people {As [ moved from the high school classroom to an elementary deas of students’ roe, [was able to observe Mrs. Vanlacken as a general education teacher partnering with a special education tcacher with students of various disabilities, Her strengths as a teacher were evident. Again, she had high ‘expectations forall. She cared for each student as an individual and knew the strengths and areas of weakness on all her students. She practiced the many different models of collaborative teaching with her eo-teacer, masterfully, uilizing smal instructional groups to either elevate or push the high students or repeat instruction to the less-sklled students. Mrs. VanL-acken isa dedicated educator who leaves no stone unturned when trying. to reach her students She knows the importance of having students involved and approaches all she does with students from a growth mindset and instills in ‘them to just keep trying! Mrs, Vankacken is distinguished and respected educator who performs other leadership roles in the District, Her administrative internship atthe District was unique. She had experiences as a dean, curiculum coordinator and building administrator. She followed up with parents, students and stafT inal the varied roles, She is valued for her ability to form team relationships with others and listen to concems ofa Student and help thern as well as, the other adults (teacher/parents) over a perceived obstacle, 1r internship she has continued her collaborative parerships with teachers as an Academic Intervention System specialist or what some schools may call a math coach, She collaboratively is working with multiple grade levels and teachers progress monitoring. co-eaching units and teaching or reteaching skill sets withthe neediest of students, Along with this she continues to work with the building. administration on building efforts and ment of the Response to Intervention building process to the Commitee on Spesial Education process; collaborating with the Special Programs ‘and Services Director and department chars in the Set-up of protocols to guide the work. Through this role, Mrs. VanLacken has honed her ability to sten without an opinion and to offer advice to those who are strugeling in a role or wth certain data ses. She is an out-of-the-box thinker Who can locument tials of her advice to analyze with others if t worked. She's able to take constructive eriticism and continue to work as a team with oth professionals. Mrs. Vanlacken has also served as a summer school program teacher. In ths role, she displayed her technology skills as well as her ‘organizational skills. The summer program utilized Tenmacks as well a other technology-based systems to puide students’ mastery of skills, he brings this expertise tothe classroom daily and utilizes it with her co-teachers and students whenever possible, also have the privilege of knowing Mrs. VanLaeken as an Alpha Taw member of Delta Kappa Garnma, an Intemational Society for Key Women Educators. She was nominated by eurrent and retired educators of Midlakes to become a member five years ago. This organization provides members With valuable professional and personal growth opportunities ineluding opportunities for leadership development. Currently, she isthe co-chair tothe finance committee whose goal is 10 keep the organization financially solvent while being charitable at the same time. This is not an easy task and is ‘commentlale. Not many never members assist in any roles inthis organization until they've been involved for several yeas, Mrs, VanLacken is the exception to that generalization In closing, Mrs, Vanlacken isa valued individual at Midlakes. Not only is she skilled educator but she performs leadership roles in all that she does, builds relationships on trust and expects that in exchange. She listens, analyzes, problem solves and collaborates. She has eagerness and grit. persevere over personal of perecived obstacles and to promote the positive in all she does. She has made the choice to expand her influcace by inspiring ‘others to find theirs, by leading them 10 emposserment that true leadership is about choice. She is more about what she ean conteibute to the world than ‘a what's in it for me person, She isan exceptional person who will bean exceptional administrator. | know she will lad Future generations of students sta, parents and communities with integrity and a resounding voice With most sine Lirn ttt plnd Tanmy J. Wood, Milles Dietr of Special Programs and Series 1554 Route 488, Clifton Springs, NY 14432-9318 Tel. (315) 548-6440 Fax (315) 548-6449