March 1, 2020

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my honor to recommend Ms. Courtney Cepec for an English teaching position. Ms. Cepec has experience
working with the most challenged student populations, including various experiencing working in high-need urban
districts. In these capacities, Ms. Cepec maintains high expectations for her students, and approaches them with a
caring asset-based mindset. I believe in her, I trust her, and I know she will be that one teacher that generations of
students to come will remember.

I first met Ms. Cepec in the spring of 2017, as a student in my Multicultural Education course. From the very first
day, Ms. Cepec stood out as both caring and culturally responsive. When I introduced the required class service-
learning project, Ms. Cepec immediately contributed ideas, enthusiasm, and leadership. Throughout the semester,
Ms. Cepec continued to be a leader in the class, and others looked to her for guidance, support, inspiration, and
friendship.

Ultimately, our class service-learning project involved facilitating culturally responsive lessons in an urban charter
school in Akron, Ohio. This experience led Ms. Cepec to apply for the Teach Grant, as she wishes to work in a high
need area, and to utilize her skills in multicultural education and culturally responsive pedagogy. Ms. Cepec truly
practices culturally responsive teaching and leading. Also, a recent student in my EDU 315 course, Teaching
Language Arts Methods, Ms. Cepec learned various methods for teaching reading and literacy practices. When an
opportunity arose to tutor a high school student several grades behind in reading, Ms. Cepec readily accepted the
challenge. Applying what she learned in the course, her young student advanced two grade levels in reading in just a
short few weeks. I cannot express how proud I am of Courtney. I have had the opportunity to meet her young charge
on several occasions, and they have formed a very special relationship. Ms. Cepec is positive force in her life, sitting
in on her IEP meetings, and advocating for her accommodations in state mandating testing. Ms. Cepec has both the
knowledge and the tenacity to advocate for students in the advancement of equity: quite a feat for an undergraduate
student. Many veteran teachers possess neither the knowledge, nor the bravery, to do this work.

Among her many outstanding qualities, Ms. Cepec is an exemplary leader. As the current past president of Kappa
Delta Pi at the University of Mount Union, Ms. Cepec helped to revitalize the chapter, and has sponsored and
supported campus and community events. Ms. Cepec has led the facilitation of a KDP iLead conference, and has
organized donations for the local domestic violence shelter’s annual fundraiser. Ms. Cepec attended and assisted
with this important event.

In addition to her leadership abilities and her commitment to social justice, Ms. Cepec is dependable, personable,
supportive, and caring. I trust her implicitly. Because of these qualities, I invited Ms. Cepec to be my personnel
research assistant for the 2017-2018 academic year. I can honestly say that Ms. Cepec is the best research assistant
that I have ever had. She has been instrumental in helping my research and publication record by assisting me in
obtaining pertinent research, assisting me in conducting empirical research; she has presented at three national
conferences, co-authored two publications with me, and contributed to a book I am writing on educational
psychology. In sum, Ms. Cepec is engaging in leadership and scholarly activities that most undergraduate students,
and even graduate students, have not the opportunity, desire, or skill in which to engage. To this end, Ms. Cepec
attended the American Educational Research Association conference in New York City in April of this year in order
to support in the presentation of the research she helped me to complete. She was also able to attend the
presentations of some of the most prestigious researchers in our field, including Dr. H. Richard Milner. This
experience was invaluable for Ms. Cepec’s future career.
It is thus without hesitation that I highly recommend Ms. Courtney Cepec for a teaching position. She truly is the
best Mount Union has to offer.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer L. Martin

Assistant Professor, Teacher Education

University of Illinois at Springfield