WEST HANOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7740 Manor Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 Phone: 657-3210; Fax: 657-9767 “Learn Like A Champion Today” Dr. Norm Miller Lewis J. Correale IIT ‘Superintendent Principal To Whom It May Concern, February 20°, 2023 I would like to take this opportunity to express my pleasure in hosting Abbey Krahling in my Autistie Support Classroom. She participated in my classroom once a week for 8 weeks in the Spring 2022 and then completed her full-time student teaching placement of 8 weeks in the Fall of 2022. Abbey worked with students with autism, who were in Kindergarten and First grade, at West Hanover Elementary. The classroom consisted of 12 students, who ranged from low-functioning to high-functioning autism. Abbey demonstrated a passion for special education, excellent skill, and professionalism. During her special education student teaching placement, Abbey was responsible for teaching individual and small group lessons and excelled in both of these areas. Abbey taught individual lessons that included intensive teaching, mand training and natural environment training. She taught small group lessons that included morning meeting and natural environment training. 1 was extremely impressed with Abbey’s ability to quickly learn the complex intensive teaching practices, which included errorless teaching, error corrections procedures, and differentiated reinforcement. Intensive teaching is ABA-based and incorporates the Verbal Behavior operants to teach language and establishing a foundation for learning. Normally, staf members in my classroom attend a 3-day training to learn how to effectively teach via intensive teaching, but this option was unavailable for Abbey. She was able to differentiate her instruction and reinforcement based on each student’s need. Not only did Abbey excel in teaching through intensive teaching, but she was able to use our data systems to record mastery and set targets for each student’s ability level. She also assisted write three IEPs and complete the Verbal Behavior Milestones and Assessment Program for 3 kindergartners. Abbey demonstrated a high level of competency when dealing with student behaviors which consisted of self-injurious aggressions and/or aggressions that were directed ‘towards herself or others. She was proactive whenever possible and offered a high rate of enthusiasm when students demonstrated on-task behavior. Abbey demonstrated professionalism in many aspects of teaching. Abbey had positive relationships with the students, staff, parents and outside agencies that visited my classroom. She displayed a great level of commitment before, during and after school, attended summer trainings (which were not required of her) and helped to set up the classroom for the 2022 school year. When reflecting on lessons or situations, Abbey was very insightful and did not hesitate to ask questions or seek my advice. Abbey effectively communicated with my two paraprofessionals. Abbey Krahling comes with my highest regards for any teaching position she pursues, Ihave no doubt that she will be an. asset to any classroom and school. If you have any questions, I can be contacted at adilger@edschools.org. Sincerely, Misi. Dryer Alicia Dilger, M. Ed ‘Autistic Support Teacher Low Incidence Department Chair ‘West Hanover Elementary School