Abington Heights School District 200 Eas Grove Street, Chatks Summit,PA 18411 Phone: 570.586.2511 February 13, 2015 To Whom It May Concer: 1s with enthusiasm and great excitement that | write tis letter in suppest of the candidacy of Johanna Davis fora math coordinator or fora teaching position in your school istic. Throughout her 7 years of teaching at Abington Heights, Johanna has consistently demonstrated ‘capability with content and instructional practice that would leave her well-suited to serve as @ ‘math resource for her teaching colleagues. She has also demonstrated an ability to connect personally and profoundly with kids. This combination of skills makes her an excellent teacher, Whether of young children or of her teaching colleagues. Itis for these reasons that I recommend her to you without reservation, Of the 4 elementary schools in our district, Johanna teaches inthe one whose students are least ‘economically advantaged. Many of them come to school in kindergarten with social and ‘academic skill deficits that together render them more challenged than most of our district students in their pursuit of learning, Johanna excels with this particular population of kids. She consistently demonstrates an ability to fist meet them as young people, and to assure them of their owa worth, She is conscious and deliberate in her atiempis to find an effective way to reach ‘each student. Ibis from the vantage point of the relationships thus kindled that she ean begin to imterest them in such things as mathematical “fact families” or the role of hypothesis testing in the scientific method, Johanna isa practitioner and an instructor of youa, and she has found a number of ways to bring her expertise in this ancient practice tothe service ofher students. Foregoing her lunch period on ‘many days, she teaches stress reduction through yoga as an alternative recess activity for th trade girs who do not connect well with other kids through typical recess play. She has also conducted yoga sessions as part ofa day of self-esteem building that our guidance counselor and she run fr our 4th grade girls each spring. Finally, she incorporates yoga principles into her daily classroom routines, teaching her students both yoga movements to stimulate the mind, and ‘movements to promote relaxation and “brain breaks”. ‘Consistent throughout Johanna's service to Abington Heights has been her palpable passion to help others, to support them in ways big and small. To be sure, this passion would find new ‘expression in her service as a curriculum coordinator tasked with supporing her colleagues in their efforts to implement optimally effective math instruction. She would quickly become an invaluable resource both to early adopters and to those who most fear change. At the same time 1 ‘am all but sure that she would find ways to support the students in her school, whether throughPage 2 February 13,2015 the teaching she might mode! for ther teachers, or through herefforts to reach out directly and ‘build relationships - especially with those students who might need 2 caring adult mast Lam saddened by the prospect of our losing Johanna from the anks of our teachers at Abington Heights Tam equally upified though hy the thought af exciting new appoetinities for her to share who she is personally and professionally with students ina new environment, Iam confident that hers would be a significant contribution to the community of young people and teaching professionals in your district. tis for this reason that! recommend het to you and support her candidacy for a math coordinator ora teaching postion. I do so without reservation. If may further elaborate on my views of her candidacy, please feel free to contact me at S70- 1585-8275 or quinnuidahsd.ors, Sincerely,