Pll. Scottsdale Yaified School District Engage, Educate and Empower Every Student, Every Day Cocopah Middle Schoo! ‘Telephone: 480-484-4400 6615. Cholla Street FAX: 480-484-4401 Soottsdale, AZ 85254 Web site: wwv.susd.ora December 9, 2016 RE: Letter of Recommendation To Whom It May Concern: : 1 am writing to you to recommend Alexis Baumgartner for a teaching position with your school. Ms. Baumgartner has recently completed her student teaching here at Cocopah Middle School, and I support her pursuit of a teaching position without reservation. Ms. Baumgartner taught in our ELA department this year, taking over classes of English Intervention and also Drama. It was a challenging assignment which she handled with grace and growing expertise. Asa teacher, she created and delivered standards-based lesson plans. She planned interventions for struggling students, monitored their progress, and helped them move to the next level. In this role, she also maintained regular communications with parents and other teachers in an effort to meet these students’ needs. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Baumgartner participated actively in our school this semester. She attended faculty and department meetings and contributed valuable insights into our discussions. It has been clear from the beginning that she has the best interest of the students as her focus. This semester she also brought two exciting additions to our teaching and learning experience. She led students in a month-long writing project, and helped them publish a book of short stories. For students who had struggled with ELA, this was tremendous for their confidence. To help with the writing process, she also created and maintained an online website full of resources for the students’ success. We all learned from Ms. Baumgartner this semester. Trecently had the opportunity to observe Ms. Baumgartner teach. She delivered a strong lesson to students about the writing process. She managed behaviors in the class by maintaining a positive, respectful, and professional tone with the students. The students were engaged the entire time because Ms. Baumgartner utilized a variety of instructional strategies, and learning was evident and plentiful throughout the period. After the lesson, we had a chance to reflect together. I found her to be open to feedback, thoughtful, and self-aware, These qualities will serve her well as she grows in her instructional mastery. Ms, Baumgartner will be a wonderful addition to your faculty, and your students will benefit from having her as. their teacher. I would be happy to answer any further questions if you have them. jjiqggammmmar ‘Cocopah Middle School