West Chester Area School District

SARAH W. STARKWEATHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1050 Wilmington Pike
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: 484-266-2202

12/13/18
To whom it may concern:
I am a special education teacher at Starkweather Elementary in the West Chester Area School
District. It is with great enthusiasm that I offer this letter of recommendation for Kyra Mitchell.
Kyra was my student teacher during the fall of 2018. Kyra excelled at her role demonstrating
the common sense, flexibility, and interpersonal skills necessary to be a great teacher.
She has a philosophy of hard work and enthusiasm that is contagious. I was impressed by
Kyra’s dedication to the students and willingness to go the extra mile. Unlike some student
teachers, when Kyra saw a need in the classroom she immediately went to work. Her “take
charge” attitude and sense of responsibility were a welcome addition to my classroom. Kyra
had wonderful rapport with the students and adults and was a real “team player”. She has
excellent communication skills, is organized and reliable. She arrived early every day and was
always prepared to start the day with a smile.
In the field of special education we often deal with difficult issues that require sensitivity,
caring, but most of all persistence and patience. Kyra demonstrated all of these qualities and
more. Some of the students that Kyra worked with had behavior issues that require a firm
hand yet caring attitude. Kyra handled these students as if she had been teaching for years!
Kyra has a strong work ethic and it showed in her teaching. She spent much time planning
lessons making sure to differentiate for the different types of students she was teaching. She
also demonstrated her flexibility on a daily basis; she took last minute schedule and lesson
changes in stride.
I recommend Kyra without reservation as a potential teacher candidate. She will be a true
asset to any school.

Sincerely,

Anne Svelling
Learning Support Teacher
Sarah W. Starkweather Elementary