June 6, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Haley Pettit and I believe I would make an excellent addition to the Madison Southern High
School team as a Social Studies Instructor. I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University Cum Laude with a
degree in History Teaching in 2015. Since then, I have spent the last two years teaching low-income high school
students as a member of AmeriCorps, and as an Academy Instructor with Upward Bound Math Science. I believe
these experiences will help me become a successful, hard-working, and empathetic teacher at MSHS.
As part of my teaching degree, I completed student teaching at Bryan Station High School in Lexington,
Kentucky. This experience introduced me to countless students and faculty with cultural ideals different from my
own, which led me to respect and encourage their differences. I believe the integration of cultures allows our
students to think critically and empathetically, two skills our students need in the real world. Because I have
worked to create an environment in my classroom at Bryan Station that celebrated differences, I believe I would
be able to do the same in my classroom at Madison Southern.
Following graduation, I tutored students in math at Madison Central High School as a member of
AmeriCorps. In addition to tutoring, I mentored, coached, and taught communication skills. Even though I am
certified to teach social studies, tutoring math gave me an opportunity to push my boundaries, be flexible, and
understand that teaching is much more than knowing the content. Because I have successfully pushed myself
beyond my self-conceived limitations before, I know that I can handle any potential challenges as a first-year
educator.
This summer, I enjoyed being a solo teacher in the classroom for the first time as an Academy Instructor
with Upward Bound Math Science through Berea College. As an Academy Instructor, I designed and taught two
six-week long math courses. These courses were designed specifically to build critical thinking skills and
communication skills while the students learned the content. Through this experience, I learned multiple ways
to teach beyond traditional lectures and worksheets, and I am confident that will help me teach students with
various learning styles at Madison Southern High School.
I believe I have the background and skills necessary to be a successful social studies teacher at Madison
Southern High School. Through my experiences, I learned to be student-centered, an excellent self-assessor, and
dependable co-worker and employee. I look forward to the experiences that MSHS will bring as I continue my
journey as an educator.

Thank you for the opportunity, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Haley Pettit