January 23, 2023

Dear School Administrator,

I am pleased to write this letter on behalf of Miss Maddyrae Kotomski. Early on into Maddyrae’s time on campus, I
could tell that she had the heart of a teacher. Her coursework and teaching throughout her career at Lebanon
Valley College have only cemented this notion and she is well-prepared to be a teacher in your district.

As Maddyrae’s instructor and supervisor, I have had many opportunities to see her shine in the college classroom
and elementary settings. It was a pleasure to supervise her during her student teaching experience in a first grade
classroom in the Lebanon School District. From my early observations, it was very apparent that this is where
Maddyrae belonged. She quickly established rapport with her young learners and maintained professional
relationships with her grade level partners, other teachers, and staff. In the first grade setting Maddyrae made
thoughtful, student-centered, standards-based decisions for lesson plans, instruction, and assessments. She used
two different classroom management systems of her own design, in addition to the existing school wide behavior
programs. The district was incorporating a new math curriculum and Maddyrae jumped in to use it from the very
first day. In addition, she completed action research during the semester that used math mats in conjunction with
the new math curriculum and saw tremendous results. She continued to differentiate in reading and math across
her 16 weeks of student teaching. She also adjusted her spelling instruction to support her students. Her district
provided iPad training and other professional development opportunities that Maddyrae took advantage of. She
celebrated many successes in her time as a student teacher!

Outside of Maddyrae’s teaching skills, she has other characteristics to be a dynamic classroom teacher. She is
enthusiastic, kind, organized, and professional. Maddyrae is sincere in her aspirations, and she is one of the most
hard working pre-service teachers I’ve worked with. Most of all, she is open to constructive feedback and with
each of my observations, worked to improve her skills. At the end of the day, her teacher heart shines through in
every interaction with students. In the college classroom, Maddyrae shows her creativity, teamwork, and strong
writing skills in all her assignments. Her work exceeds expectations and she is always open to feedback. I am
certain she will continue to be a lifelong learner.

Teaching at the college level in a teacher preparation program, I consider if I would want that student to be my
sons’ teacher. Without a doubt, I would be thrilled if Miss Kotomski was their teacher. Her professionalism and
dedication surpass adults who have been doing this for a long time. She is energetic, creative, confident, and is
going to make a difference in the lives of her students. If you would like additional details on Maddyrae’ s
performance or have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (717)867-6309 or jkuntz@lvc.edu.

Sincerely,

Jennifer S. Kuntz ‘03

Director of Field Experiences
Assistant Professor of Education