DepartmentofInstruction

401McIntire,Room333
Charlottesville,VA22902
January20,2017

ToWhomItMayConcern:

ItismypleasuretowritethisrecommendationforJohnVisel.IworkedcloselywithJohnduringmyfiveyearsastheLead
CoachforFineArtshereinAlbemarleCounty.Pleaseconsiderhimoneofyourstrongestcandidates.NotonlyisJohna
teacherwhoseeksexcellence,buthegives100%toeveryprofessionalendeavorheundertakes.

Johnisanexemplaryteacherwhoactivelyseeksoutprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesatthelocal,state,and
nationallevel.Twoyearsago,hesuccessfullybecameNationallyBoardCertifiedinhisfirstattempt!Hewillingshareshis
newinsightsandexperienceswithhisfellowmusicspecialistsbothvirtually(emailorSkype)andinperson(onprofessional
developmentdaysorinhisclassroom).IfthereareobstaclesinJohnsway,hefiguresouthowtocarveouthisown
opportunities.Specifically,hetakeseverypossiblemomenttovisitcolleagues(goingtomiddleschoolafterelementary
studentsgohome;visitingfellowmusicteacherclassroomwhengradelevelsathisschoolmissmusicduetobeingonfield
trips,teamteachingwiththeteachersnewesttoourschooldivision,etc.)

JohnhasbeenamemberoftheElementaryMusicLeadershipTeamforfouryearsandourFineArtsVerticalTeamforthree.
TheLeadershipteamisapeerleadershipposition,andJohnisateachertowhommanyofhispeersvaluebecauseheisan
expertwholistenstoothers.Heiscomfortablepresentingtrainingsessionstohisfellowmusicspecialists.Asamemberof
theFineArtsVerticalTeam,Johnhasworkedwithhispeerstodevelopconceptcenteredandstandardsbasedcurriculum
maps.Hisideaofcollectingandlinkingsampleteachingvignettesintothesemapsiswellreceived.

IthoughtitmightbeinterestingtoyoutohearhowJohnscolleaguesperceivehim.Iinformallypolledthreeverydifferent
teachersonewhomentoredhimwhenhefirstcametoourdivision,onewhohementored,andathirdteacherwhoheis
lessformallyassociatedwithbuthasimpactedmorethanhethinkshehas.Hereiswhattheyhadtosay:
"Johnistheexemplarymusician,organizer,leader,firstresponder,humblehumorouscandidgeniuswewantasourmusic
teachercolleague."
Johnisanoutstandingmusicteacherandcolleague.Heiseagertosharewhatisworkinginhisclassroomandcollaborate
withothers.Heisalwayslookingforwaystoinnovate,ratherthanstagnate.Hefrequentlyreadsstudiesandarticles
abouteducationandshareshisthoughtswithothers.Heisneversatisfiedwithbeing"goodenough",butalwayspushes
himselftodobetter.Heisalwayswillingtohelpcolleaguescontinuetodevelop/growaswell.
JohnViselisnotonlyasuperbteacher,butalifelonglearneraswell.Hiscommitmenttohisstudentsmotivateshimto
research,pursueandapplybestpracticesandintroducenewandauthenticmusicinstructioninhisclassroom."

Ifyouneedanymoreinformationorhavespecificquestions,pleasefeelfreetocontactmeatwork(4342965820)orviae
mailat:cwells@k12albemarle.org.

Sincerely,

CyndiWells,LeadCoach
AlbemarleCountyPublicSchools