April 1, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this recommendation letter on behalf of Ms. Cassidy Leonardis, who is applying for
a full-time teaching position that will utilize her extensive background in special education.
Cassidy is currently a student at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). I had the pleasure of
serving as her professor for Literacy Strategies and Assessment course last semester as well as
observe her in a first grade field placement. It is simply an honor to write a recommendation for
Cassidy for this purpose.

Cassidy immediately impressed me as a diligent student and passionate future educator!

However, what truly makes her a distinctive candidate is her firm resolve and conviction that
every child deserves a chance to reach their highest potential. Cassidy does not view this as
optional, but rather integral to her teaching philosophy. Her warm smile and demeanor captured
the hearts of all of her first grade students last semester. She approached all of her visits with the
utmost professionalism and commitment. As a result, she received the highest scores possible in
her cooperating teacher’s evaluation of her attitudes and dispositions as a future educator. Her
resume boasts of diligence across her courses. She also takes on important leadership roles such
as serving in TCNJ’s Autism Awareness Club.

In class, Cassidy was constantly striving to learn more to take back into the classroom. The
lessons I witnessed her designed and execute were innovative and inclusive. Her work was never
less than high quality and she was consistently willing to adapt and modify her philosophy of
instruction based on the new information she was acquiring and her thoughtful self-reflection. It
was a joy to watch her grow as a student and educator. She also worked very well with her
practicum partner and classmates. I have no doubt she will be a team player and look to provide
her future colleagues with support, assistance, and encouragement.

In her teaching philosophy, Cassidy asserts “Besides the curriculum, I want my students to know
that they are loved and valued in all aspects. I want them to continue doing what they love and
working hard. They need to have confidence in themselves for them to do so. Having confidence
and a growth mindset will help students realize they are capable of doing more than they think. I
want to remind them that they can never stop learning. I also want to be able to maintain some
relationships with my students and let them know that they can reach out to me if they need to
talk. As a teacher, I want my students to feel like they have someone to talk to and they can still
come to me with questions.” This statement affirms Cassidy’s passion and commitment to
equitable education that extends far beyond the classroom.

In short, I have no doubt that Cassidy will be a tremendous asset to any school setting. I have no
reservations in recommending her for a teaching position. I have three children of my own and I
would be simply thrilled if she served as a teacher for any one of them. For me, there is no higher
praise.

Please do not hesitate to email me at: rennerj1@tcnj.edu if you have further questions.
Sincerely yours,

Dr. Jennifer Renner Del Nero

Assistant Professor
Department of Special Education, Language, & Literacy
PO Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
1(609) 771-3432
rennerj1@tcnj.edu