April 18th, 2019

To whom it may concern,

I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for Vincent Zahm. Vincent student taught with
me during the second semester of the 2018-19 school year. His student teaching experience has been
nothing short of a resounding success. Vincent has my highest recommendation for any teaching
position for which he has applied.
During his student teaching experience Vincent demonstrated many skills and characteristics of
a high quality teacher. First and foremost is his ability to build relationships with students. Vincent
gained the respect of his students by instilling in them the sense that they were respected and valued
members of the classroom. His day to day interactions with students reinforced their belief that they
were not only capable learners, but expected to meet high expectations. By fostering this culture of
mutual respect and academic achievement, Vincent laid the foundations of an excellent learning
environment.
Another characteristic of Vincent is how hard he is willing to work to meet students needs. On
many occasions Vincent was staying after school hours willing to tutor or meet with students in our
classroom. If a student was in need there wasn't much Vincent would not do in order to help.
Another one of Vincent's strengths is communication. A portion of his success this semester can
be attributed to his ability to have meaningful communication with administration, colleagues, and
most importantly students and parents. Vincent made it a point to not only interact with students, but
just as important their parents and guardians; The results were proactive responses to problems and
other issues before they escalated.
Like any quality teacher, Vincent has the ability to adapt and think creatively. His lessons,
always mindful of state content expectations, express themselves in many ways and to multiple
learning styles. His use and incorporation of technology only enhanced the multiple teaching styles he
routinely uses. Vincent's lessons have proven to not only deliver content but to inspire learners as well.
Last but not least is Vincent's classroom management. Because of the foundation of mutual
respect mentioned earlier, Vincent has had fewer than normal problems in the classroom, and those few
problems were quickly resolved. Students who found themselves the focus of Mr. Zahm's displeasure
quickly modified any behavior that might have drawn his attention. I honestly believe they don't want
to disappoint him rather than avoid 'getting in trouble'. The few instances that required more
intervention have been dealt with in a proactive, professional manner that minimized interruption to
learning and paved the way for continued student progress in class.
As stated, it is with great pleasure that I recommend Vincent Zahm. Without a doubt he will be
an asset to your building and district.

Sincerely,

Mattheus Walline
Milan High School
Social Studies Department Chair