December 21, 2012 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing on behalf of Catherine MacDonald, a recent graduate of Emerson Colleges Master

of Arts in Theatre Education program and my student teacher. Catherine came to Josiah Quincy Upper School, a pilot school in the Boston Public School district, to fulfill her student teaching requirements and continue to develop and grow as a theatre educator. As her cooperating practitioner, I have had the opportunity of seeing her lead classes and work directly with students at our school. During that time, she has proven herself to be a teacher that is very enthusiastic, energetic, and engaging to her students and colleagues alike. That being said, I highly recommend her for your program. In the classroom, Ms. MacDonald was a delight to watch instructing students in the classroom. She was strong at putting together and presenting lessons that were compelling and engaging to the students. While she worked as lead teacher, she developed several solid curriculum units that allowed the students much success in learning and growth. In one unit, world folktales & storytelling, she presented a challenging assignment that was engaging and fun for the students throughout the process. She worked one on one with each student to meet their needs and assist them with questions. The students grew to feel very safe and comfortable with Ms. MacDonald as their lead teacher in a very short amount of time. In building that trust, the students challenged themselves and felt compelled to try their best for her. Notably, Ms. MacDonald was able to provoke interest and inspire a few students who in the past have been very resistant or hesitant to work. Outside of the classroom, Catherine has proven herself to be a very conscientious and professional teacher. She is a strong organizer and always kept detailed student records. She worked hard at providing for appropriate assessment opportunities for the students, both informal and formal. In the four months that she was here at JQUS, Catherine went out of her way to help with anything that needed to get done to make the theatre classes and arts program a success. She participated in and helped to organize several school field trips that provided students with opportunity to support the urban environment and partake in live professional performances. Catherine also attended staff meetings where her input was helpful to discussions on student success and school improvement. I was very impressed with her efforts at making it a priority to be a true member of the school culture. I recommend Catherine MacDonald with a firm belief that she will make a great addition to your teaching team and theatre department. I am certain that she will bring a fresh energy and skill to your staff and make a strong contribution to the education of your students. If you should have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 617-543-1854 or at DramaDeMarco@gmail.com Thank you for your consideration of this fine candidate. Sincerely yours,

Laurie S. DeMarco
Laurie St. Peter DeMarco Theatre Teacher
900 Washington St. BOSTON, MA 02111 TEL: 617.635.1515 FAX: 617.635.8945