Dan Bridges Superintendent of Schools

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 203

Highlands Elementary School . 525 South Brainard Street . Naperville, Illinois 60540-6600 . 630/420-6335

Susan Stuckey, Principal . FAX: 630/420-6957

March 22, 2013

To Whom It May Concern,

We have had the pleasure of having Alyssa Coros work inour c1assrom over the course of the
2012-2013 school year. Our classroom is comprised of 4th_5th grade students who are enrolled in the

district's gifted magnet program. The students possess a high amount of intelligence but there is still a
great amount of diversity in the classroom, ranging from a plethora of different cultures, to students
with various special needs. These special needs include autism, aspergers, ADHD, and specialized

emotional needs. In other words, many students in our classroom are "twice-exceptional".
Alyssa's primary responsibilities include supporting our students with special needs as they work

through the various learnings in the class. Since our classroom is based on project-based learning, and working together in teams and independently at times, it is necessary for us to be in a constant state of differentiation. Alyssa has had the opportunity to experience this first hand on a daily basis. She has also planned with students, collected data on their trimester goals, and conferenced with students, while discussing their meta cognition and how they are progressing through the goals they have made.
She is consistently instrumental in supporting our discussion with our students who need extra
help or guidance. When one of us is absent, there is not a person we would rather have subbing for us.
Not only is she a great teacher and knows how to engage students; she also has a secure handle on

efficient classroom management. She is reasonable and flexible in her approach, yet firm at times and
sticks to appropriate consequences. She follows through with what she says and her words carry weight
and meaning. You cannot always say that with younger teachers.
Alyssa brings strong enthusiasm to our classroom on a daily basis and creates professional

inferences based on what she sees and experiences. These inferences involve analyzing each situation,

and coming up with ideas on how to modify her approach with instruction or her approach with a particular student. This skill is advantageous for any teacher to possess, but it is one that she is developing earlier than others. We appreciate and respect her opinion and ideas in our classroom.

It is without hesitation that we recommend Alyssa for any teaching position at the elementary
leveL.

~tJ~ ~~
Brian Horner and Sue Kouri

Sincerely,

Highlands School, Naperville, Illinois

630-420-6335 bhorner@naperville203.org sko u ri@naperville203.org