Olympia Middle School

911 E. 800 North Rd.

Stanford, IL 61774
Phone: 309-379-5941
Fax: 309-379-5411
“Working together to make tomorrow better than today”

March 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Crystal Thompson, a current 6th grade teacher at Olympia Middle School, located in Stanford, Illinois. I am
writing on behalf of Anna Underhill. In my tenure as an educator, I have had the privilege of working with those of
varying teaching styles and personalities. Anna is one of those individuals. Although I don't teach directly with Anna on
the 8th grade team, I was assigned as her mentor teacher her first year at OMS, and we serve on the same Professional
Learning Community (PLC) team, with a focus on Reading and Language Arts. I also share a Reading Intervention
classroom with Anna throughout the school week. Therefore, I know Mrs. Underhill has a desire to develop and provide
positive, educational experiences for all students, regardless of need or ability. Anna is knowledgeable of her role, duties,
responsibilities, and expectations that are set before her as a teacher. She works consistently and diligently at providing a
variety of learning experience opportunities for her students, as well as for herself.

Mrs. Underhill is an organized individual and well-planned. Her daily learning targets and rationale are not only visible
for reference within her classroom, but are consistently discussed and clarified throughout the learning experience. This
essential piece of communication allows the students to clearly focus on the objective and obtain the targeted skills. At
the conclusion of class, Mrs. Underhill works with students to reflect upon their learning, while she assesses the level of
understanding. This assessment guides the following lesson's focus and provides on-going opportunity for differentiation.

Mrs. Underhill utilizes not only formative assessments of student progress, but test data, classroom discussions, writings,
evaluations, and any student driven data to assist her in providing differentiation for student learning. This leads to
greater success on summative assessments and obtainment of skills. Her students have individual goals, based upon their
learning needs. Anna provides a variety of resources, including technology, to help meet those needs. Her use of high
interest technology resources provides instant feedback of student learning, as well as supports successful skill attainment.
Anna also conferences with students, individually, incorporating the Workshop model. One of Anna's strengths, in my
opinion, is her constant, constructive feedback through the variety of methods she utilizes.

Mrs. Underhill applies the professional development she receives by incorporating the learning into her lessons. Doing so
provides the opportunity to further reach the varying needs within her classroom. Anna shares new and innovative ideas in
English Language Arts (ELA) PLC meetings, held monthly. Mrs. Underhill also understands the value of
communication. She frequently communicates home to parents and students. Anna uses email blasts to communicate, via
technology, to parents as a whole. Additionally, Anna has incorporated an on-line tool to 'remind' students of assignments
and due dates. Communication is imperative and these are just two means in which she communicates home.

Teaching is a demanding career for which Mrs. Underhill is equipped. She meets challenges head-on and is willing to
provide the effort and time it requires to fulfill the expectations laid out before her in the teaching profession. Thank you
for your time and for considering Mrs. Anna Underhill.

Sincerely,

Crystal Thompson
OLYMPIA: INSPIRING, EDUCATING, AND CHALLENGING EACH STUDENT TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL EXCELLENCE