DERRY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Derry Grandview Elementary School aay 9 18 Reereation Road - \r Derry. PA 15627-97 Trojans Phone 724-694-2400 Fax 724-694-1551 dderryasd schoolwires.com Telfrey W. Metzger Associate Principal May 4, 2012 Dear Sir or Madam: | am pleased to recommend Allison Petris as an excellent candidate for a teaching Position. Miss Petris was under my supervision during the final haif of a fifteen week student teaching experience at Grandview Elementary School. She taught in a fourth grade classroom and was able to participate in a full range of experiences. Miss Petris ‘taught all fourth grade curricular areas, assisted in supervising students during arrival and departure, monitored hall, restroom, and playground areas, and participated in scheduled staff meetings. In addition, Miss Petris voluntarily attended an after-school fundraiser held at a local bookstore. Miss Petris completed all teaching tasks in a well-organized, competent, and timely fashion. She was able to assess her students’ needs and worked very hard to plan lessons that met the leaming styles, interests, and abilities of her students. Her creativity and resourcefulness enabled her to select teaching strategies and support materials that fostered her lesson objectives and actively engaged the students. Miss Petris encouraged student collaboration through the use of paired, cooperative, and large-group activities. She successfully demonstrated the ability to plan and teach a complete science unit on matter that was aligned with the PA State Standards. Furthermore, Miss Petris welcomed the opportunity to enhance her technology skills by integrating the use of a SMART Board in most of her lessons. Miss Petris has exhibited a positive attitude, an enthusiasm for teaching, and a cooperative spirit that has enabled her to easily establish a positive rapport with her students and our faculty. She was confident and self-motivated, yet able to take criticism in stride and use it to improve as a professional Miss Petris has shown strong growth in classroom management skills during her student teaching experience. She has fostered developmentally appropriate practices in classroom management that have helped students to develop self-control and ‘commitment to such values as fairness, kindness, and responsibility. She has worked with students to encourage problem-solving and decision-making for a more effective community of leamers. | strongly recommend Miss Petris for an elementary teaching position. | believe she will enhance the faculty of any school. | would be pleased to have her as a teaching colleague. Sincerely, Rebecca L. Sechrist 4" Grade Teacher Grandview Elementary School