Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies

P.O. Box 5190 Kent, Ohio 44242-0001

Phone: (330) 672-2580 Fax: (330) 672-3246 http://www.ehhs.kent.edu/tlc/


May 27, 2014

To Whom It May Concern

I am pleased to recommend Melissa Sawyer for a teaching position in Language Arts. As a
supervisor for Kent State University, I have worked with Melissa since October 2013, as she has completed
her field experience and her student teaching. In that time, I have found her to be an excellent teaching
candidate. Many college recommendations ask for the first words that come to mind when thinking about a
person. Were I to apply that standard to Melissa, I would have to say that my choices would be
knowledgeable, hard-working, and responsible.

Melissa is very knowledgeable about her subject matter. One of the first times I observed Melissa,
she was teaching a rather obscure and relatively shallow Edgar Allan Poe story. She taught it well, but I was
a bit disappointed in her selection of that story. When I asked her about it later, however, she explained that
she was required to teach that specific story according to the curriculum map for the English 11 CP classes in
the school where she was assigned. When I asked her what she thought about the story, she showed me an
extensive understanding of story structure, elements of literature, and why some works are better than others.
When I asked her what she would rather teach, she selected several of Poes more quality works. In other
words, she knows American literature. I saw this same knowledge throughout her student teaching.

In addition to being dedicated, Melissa is very hard-working. She student taught in a school with a
great deal of ethnic and economic diversity. She embraced that diversity, learned about her students, and
enjoyed the differences that her students brought to the classroom. Because of the incredible number of
snow days experienced by her district and all districts in Northeast Ohio this winter, she frequently had to
made adaptations to lesson plans, assessments, and assignments. She did so willingly and efficiently.

Finally, Melissa is very responsible. She has a very easy rapport with her students and with the
faculty of the school where she student taught. She not only accepts criticismshe welcomes it. Whenever
I made suggestions, she listened, took notes, and thanked me for the feedback. Each time that I observed her,
I could see her working consciously on the goals that we had set after our previous conference. She had an
excellent relationship with her cooperating teacher.

I feel very comfortable in recommending Melissa. I have enjoyed working with her and watching her
progress. I feel that she would be an asset to any school district. If you wish to contact me personally, please
feel free to email me at arote@kent.edu or to call my home, 330-658-6496.


Very truly yours



Alice Rote
Supervising Teacher