Dr.

Angela Elsass, Associate Clinical Professor

208 Peabody Hall Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 (479) 601-2722
Department of Curriculum & Instruction, College of Education & Health Professions

March 13, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my privilege to highly recommend Miss Taylor Ann Allred for a teaching position in your
school. I have had the opportunity to supervise and teach Miss Allred at the University of Arkansas
while she was enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Due to the nature of this
program, I was able to establish a personal and professional relationship with Miss Allred while she
was under my supervision as an intern preparing to become a career teacher. I feel that I am able
to provide a very objective recommendation due to the fact that I have also been both an
elementary teacher and principal. I feel confident that I know the quality of person that one seeks
when hiring a classroom teacher and can judge the personal, professional, and educational aspects
of such a person. Taylor will certainly be such an asset to the students, school, and district for
which she will serve.

In regard to my position as an instructor at the University of Arkansas, I observed that Miss Allred
is highly respected by her peers and by the mentor teachers who have supervised her. Her positive
attitude and friendly personality make her very well-liked by all individuals that have come to
know her during her journey in becoming an elementary school teacher. She has a cooperative
spirit and works well with the other students in our program. She is both reflective and responsible
in her coursework and makes the effort to go above and beyond in researching materials that will
make her an exceptional classroom teacher.

Taylor is currently completing a year-long internship and has had the opportunities to experience
placements in kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms at Washington Elementary School and a 5th
grade departmentalized science classroom at McNair Middle School which are both in Fayetteville,
Arkansas. She has demonstrated the wonderful ability to design motivating and engaging lessons
that are aligned with state standards.

She has shown great expertise in using formative assessments to guide her instruction and has
experience in the Understanding by Design curriculum model. She designed a two week unit for a
second grade classroom using this model in which she effectively integrated math, science, writing,
and literacy in her unit.
She has a natural talent for motivating and engaging her students at multiple levels through cross-
curricular connections and differentiation of her lessons. She has integrated many of her lessons
using various forms of educational technology which has been interesting and motivating to her
students. She will also receive a certificate in STEM education upon graduation for completing
coursework in designing instruction that integrates science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.

Miss Allred conducted a nine week action research project on the effects of self-regulated strategy
development on writing proficiency in a 2nd grade classroom. It was evident through the
motivation of the students in her classroom and their excitement for learning during this whole
class intervention that she was successful in meeting the goals of her project.

I believe that Miss Allred has the dedication for working with a student population that is diverse
and will strive to meet the needs for both exceptional and high-risk students. She has the
knowledge and capability to provide innovative instruction through a variety of strategies that
target various learning preferences and she has proven herself to be effective in her classroom
management skills. Miss Allred has a sound knowledge of the content and pedagogy for designing
coherent instruction and has been evaluated during her internship experience with the Charlotte
Danielsons Framework for Teaching which aligns with the Arkansas Teacher Effectiveness and
Support System (TESS) evaluation model.

I highly recommend her for employment in your district. She has proven herself worthy as a
dedicated student and intern who possesses the desire to share her real-life experiences and
knowledge in a classroom setting. The opportunity for Taylor to share her talent in the classroom
will be beneficial for the students she will teach one day and I know that she will be appreciated by
both the parents of her students and the faculty of the school in which she teaches.

Please consider Taylor Allred as a candidate for employment. She will be a teacher that will touch
the lives of children- regardless of their race, language, academic levels or socio-economic status. I
would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have in regard to Miss Allred in regard
to my recommendation for her being employed in your school. You may contact me at (479) 601-
2722 or by email at aelsass@uark.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Angela Elsass, Associate Clinical Professor

University of Arkansas, College of Education & Health Professions
Department of Curriculum & Instruction- Childhood Education Program
Liaison and Supervisor of Student Internship Experience
Peabody Hall 208
Fayetteville, AR 72701