Friday, January 3, 2014 I have had the pleasure of working with Sandy Palmer for the past two

years as part of the Community Service council. In addition, Sandy and I are co-coordinators for both the SCEEP Holiday Party and the PACS tutoring program. Sandys contribution to the Community Service program is immeasurable. When I took over as director last year, Sandy quickly became an essential resource. Her experience with the previous incarnation of Community Service council and the reporting system are crucial assets as we seek to refocus and enliven the program. Sandys passion for service and the role it plays in developing the mind and character of our students are apparent at every meeting. She is a constant source of inventive approaches and excels at pushing the council to think critically about our programming. For example, Sandy suggested working with the organization Color-a-Smile as part of our Spring into Service initiative last year and helped the program develop into a monthly student run service opportunity. The critical eye she brings to planning is most evident in the success of the Holiday Party. The Party is now more family-focused and includes a formal sit-down diner and multiple activities in addition to arts and crafts. Beyond the event itself, Sandy and I have worked together to ensure that all of the NA volunteers are getting the most out of the experience and are actively engaged. However, one of the best aspects of working with Sandy is learning from her as an educator. Quite simply, Sandy is a natural educator. During PACS tutoring I have had the chance to gain an understanding of how her students benefit from her high level of instructional effectiveness. In our efforts to promote student leadership, Sandy and I have both had to step up to model effective teaching and classroom management. Sandys command of the classroom is evident as she leads activities. In a classroom of 18 overly excited 5th graders (not to mention their tutors), she immediately demands respect and attention. The fact that during our discussion of gratitude multiple students mention how grateful they were for Mrs. Palmer demonstrates the high level of respect that have for her. This year Sandy has become a recognized master teacher not only serving as a representative of the Science department in the writing lab workshop, but also running a Community of Practice session on creating a positive classroom atmosphere. During the session, attendees gained valuable tools to promote a non-judgmental classroom atmosphere. During well-organized session Sandy modeled her positive classroom management, keeping the mood light as the faculty in attendance engaged in the subject matter. She clearly communicated her knowledge of a wide variety of teaching methodologies learned through her independent research demonstrating her passion for life-long learning. Sandy provided tools and activities that could be put into practice immediately, making the session a success from a professional development standpoint. I, personally, was able to implement some of her suggestions immediately. Sandy is a valuable asset to the Newark Academy community. Her exceptional presence both in and out of the classroom serve as a model for students and faculty alike. Sincerely, Sarah Fischer