Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District ACADEMY STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Vincent ters Kory A. Vann Principal December 11, 2015 Dear fellow educator, Louis Liberatote is an intelligent, vibrant young man with an unmatched work ethic. He recently concluded his full time student teaching experience in my fourth grade classroom at Academy Street Elementary School in Bayport, NY. It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter recommending Mr. Liberatore for an elementary teaching position. An educator of his caliber is a valuable commodity. From the very first day of his student teaching experience, Mr. Liberatore connected with each and every student in the class. He devoted much of his time to developing a personal, caring, yet light- hearted rapport with both boys and girls. The children immediately respected and trusted Mr. Liberatore as he quickly became woven into the fabric of our class. Students looked to him for gentle encouragement, guidance and support. I asked Mr. Liberatore why he wanted to pursue a career in teaching, and he replied that he loves working with children and he wants to make a difference in the lives of young learners. I believe the most important quality a teacher can possess is the ability to interact positively with children in order to promote a culture of learning. Mr. Liberatore is a natural. It is important for teachers to become well-versed in common core protocols and instruction aligned with current learning standards. Not only did Mr. Liberatore adapt and teach a variety of lessons from the New York State ELA and math modules, but he integrated technology, worked with guided reading groups and created workshop-style lessons to meet the needs of students in the class, I would describe myself as an individual with very high expectations. Mr. Liberatore’s planning, preparation, instructional delivery, and reflectiveness were of the same quality as a seasoned teacher. He exceeded my expectations, and was considered a model student teacher by his supervisory professor. Mr. Liberatore works as a coach of several successful baseball programs. A great coach builds trust and respect, listens, provokes thought and reflection, develops a rapport with his teammates, challenges his players, finds solutions, adapts to changing circumstances, and has a vision focused on the big picture. These are desirable traits that highly effective teachers possess, and I believe coaching is the perfect metaphor for Mr. Liberatore’s teaching style. It has been my pleasure mentoring with Mr. Liberatore. He will, without a doubt, be an asset to any elementary or middle school faculty. Please feel free to contact me at (516) 503-2075 to discuss Mr. Liberatore’s future in your school district. Sincerely, Kimberly Rall Academy Street Elementary School Grade 4 150 Academy Street, Bayport, New York 11705-1708 (631) 472-7850 Fax (631) 472-7858