To whom it may concern,

I am writing in support of Maria Wilson as she completes her Master’s Program in education. I
have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Wilson this past year in the role of math coach at the
Salemwood School in Malden. Though I have worked at the school for 8 years, this was my first
year in the role of math coach, which allowed me to work more closely with Ms. Wilson in the
area of mathematics. I can say with complete confidence that Ms. Wilson is not only an
excellent math teacher, but she is willing to ask for help and accept feedback, which in my
opinion is even more important.

I observed Ms. Wilson multiple times throughout the school year. Sometimes it was to observe
strategies for teaching certain skills, other times it was to focus on specific students who were
having difficulty, and still other times it was to focus on aspects of learning such as student
collaboration and high level questioning. I was always impressed with the way Ms. Wilson knew
exactly what was going on in her classroom. At the Salemwood school, we often utilize centers
during our math blocks, and it can be extremely challenging to be teaching a small group while
also ensuring the rest of the class is engaged. Ms. Wilson was able to do this with ease, which
is a testament to her classroom management and ability to connect with her students. It was
evident that creating this safe and nurturing environment also increased the students’
confidence.

As a first year math coach, I fully expected it to take time for teachers to be willing to reach out
to me for feedback. I recognize that asking to be observed can be nerve wracking even when
you have confidence in yourself. Ms. Wilson was one of the first teachers to invite me into her
classroom. She was specific about wanting help with some students who were struggling to
add with regrouping. After I spent the period in her classroom, we debriefed and discussed the
strategies I had seen her use as well as some additional ones that might provide more support
for her class. She welcomed this feedback, where many shy away from it. This shows that Ms.
Wilson is always willing to try new things in the best interest of her students. With education
and technology constantly evolving, it is critical to have an open mind and always be pushing
yourself to learn more. Ms. Wilson is a perfect example of the type of person and teacher we
need in our schools. I have no doubt that she will be successful, and continue to go above and
beyond for her students.

Sincerely,
Cara Hovhanessian
Math Coach
Salemwood School