JAMIE SHUMAN

2720 Foley Court

Tallahassee, Florida 32304

18 June 2019

Office Manager
Lincoln High School
3838 Trojan Trail
Tallahassee, Florida 32311

Dear Hiring staff:

I am excited to ask for consideration regarding my application to teach English II. I am a Lincoln High School
alumna, it would be a delight to get to give back to the school that contributed so fully to who I am. I received a
phone call in response to my online application, but since I was unable to interview that day, I hope that these
documents give you a good picture of my qualifications for the position, particularly: my upcoming Bachelor’s in
English Literature, consistent involvement and leadership in academic and community-oriented organizations, and
my work experience as a summer camp counselor and preschool teacher aid.

Being a summer camp counselor at YMCA Camp Wewa for three summers is the experience that has most
shaped my perspective on how to create an appropriate, safe environment conducive to developing the whole
person of a youth. There, it was my job to create a camp environment and interact with campers in a way that
provided each camper the best possible week of having fun, gaining skills, and growing in character. The staff
team worked together to accomplish this in consideration of the broad range of our campers’ backgrounds (many
came to camp on scholarship from difficult family circumstances, as well as with special needs). The moments
when campers realized that they are being persistently cared for by trusted adults were life changing for them and
for myself as I persevered through each summer. That job, like all instructional or educational work, caused me to
draw on the love and character I have received, and in it I became well-versed in the love, hope, and grit it takes
to never give up on someone. Such persistence provided me many opportunities to perceive unique needs –
practical, emotional, academic, or social needs – of the campers and team-members around me and creatively
address them, while also learning to acknowledge my own areas for growth.

My extensive university coursework in literature and education have provided me with theoretical and practical
tools. These, combined with my experiences as a camp counselor, preschool teacher, and leader across contexts,
have deepened my desire to work with high school students, to challenge them toward greater literacy and literary
knowledge, and quicken them to persevere in all areas of life. As a Lincoln High School alumna, I know first-
hand that the values of our school lead to a true appreciation and joy for learning, a commitment to diverse
communities, and a sense of responsibility to self and others. This gives me confidence that, should I join your
team, I will immediately enrich my students’ learning experience, while I persist in learning the nuances of expert
instruction and classroom management.

I am grateful for the academic rigor and encouraging environment the faculty and staff provided while I was a
high school student, and it has long been my aim to join the ranks of those who create such an environment for
successful instruction and learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to seek this position.

I hope to hear from you soon; please feel free to call me at (352) 988-7107, email me at jamie1shuman@gmail.com,
or access my website at www.jamieshuman.weebly.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.

In earnest,
Jamie Shuman