May 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

It is a pleasure to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Ms. Jennifer O’Brien in support of
her candidacy for a teaching position within your district. As a supervisor at the University of
Connecticut, I have worked with Jennifer in her role as an elementary education student within the
NEAG School of Education. During the spring semester of this past year, Jennifer was a student
teacher within a fifth grade classroom at Naubuc Elementary School which is located in Glastonbury,
CT. As Jennifer’s supervisor, I had firsthand knowledge of her capability to teach a diverse group of
students with a wide range of abilities and learning styles.

Recognized as an exemplary Honor’s Scholar with a 4.0 GPA, Jennifer just graduated with her
Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary of Education. She is presently enrolled as a graduate
student at the University of Connecticut and plans to receive a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum
and Instruction next May. Her 5 year studies is part of the Neag School of Education’s Integrated
Bachelor’s/Master’s Program with a Concentration in Science. For her Fifth Year Internship next
school year, Jennifer has been placed at Verplanck Elementary School located in Manchester, CT.
The title of her internship is Socratic Seminar which will require her to work with elementary age
students in all subject areas.

Jennifer demonstrated an understanding of the foundational skills of teaching and learning which
were clearly evidenced throughout her student teaching experience within an assigned fifth grade
classroom. After each observed lesson, Jennifer consistently reviewed the outcome of her lesson and
shared her self-analysis of the successes of the lesson as well as the areas which required further
review. During this time, I found Jennifer to be a reflective and determined individual with a
tremendous desire to provide each of her students with an opportunity to excel academically. She was
extremely diligent in looking at student work to determine what needed to be accomplished for the
next lesson/s.

For one who is just starting out her career as an elementary school teacher, Jennifer has demonstrated
a considerable amount of knowledge regarding professional practices in the field of education.
Within the classroom, her ability to apply educational techniques and strategies in order to maximize
the ultimate goal of each child reaching his or her true potential was clearly seen. Jennifer
continuously reflected on her teaching practices in order to accomplish this goal. She demonstrated a
remarkable ability to gain professional input and research additional ways to address the needs of her
diverse group of students. For example, while designing her lesson plans with new and challenging
content (e.g., multiplication of proper fractions using numbers and pictures, understanding how the
time period impacts character and plot) Jennifer met with the Math and Reading Consultants to gain
additional strategies in order to provide her fifth graders with solid and informed instruction.
It is without reservation that I enthusiastically recommend Ms. Jennifer O’Brien for a teaching
position within your district. I am certain you will find her pleasant and calm demeanor desirable for
your school community. Please feel free to call me at (860 597-6499) if you have any further
questions regarding Jennifer’s teaching abilities.

Sincerely,

Norma Fisher-Doiron
Norma Fisher-Doiron
University of Connecticut Supervisor