2016

Jessica Garner
441 S. Maple #89
Mesa, AZ 85206
jlgarner1994@gmail.com
480-415-4777

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Jessica Garner. I am a student in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at
Arizona State University. I am writing this letter to communicate that I am a valuable
candidate for a teaching position.

After completing a rigorous yearlong teacher preparation program at ASU in May of 2016
with several semesters on the Deans List, I feel well prepared for a teaching position. I
would be a great addition to this district because I have many qualities that make me an
effective educator and cohesive team member. These qualities include flexibility, excellent
time management, a solid classroom management system, perseverance in frustrating or
unanticipated situations, diligence in all my work, thorough content knowledge, and
willingness to work with others. I also have great love for children and feel that my life
would be well spent if I used my career to influence children in a positive way.

I also have experience that could serve to set me apart from other candidates. I have spent
several hundred hours volunteering in a variety of settings. Some were projects of my own
creation (collecting, wrapping, and distributing gifts to every child at Sunshine Acres, for
example) and some were run by organizations (House of Hope, Youth Haven Ranch, Arizona
Youth Soccer Organization). I try to volunteer at least 50 hours per year as a personal goal,
especially around Christmastime. I feel my volunteer efforts show qualities in my character
such as selflessness, desire to help others, and the desire to be part of something bigger
than myself. As an added bonus for myself, it is rejuvenating to the soul to see hope in the
faces of people who once thought hope was lost.

While still in school, I worked with the developmentally disabled population through
Odyssey Services Corporation. As a habilitation worker, it was my responsibility to develop
activities for clients to maintain or regain cognitive functions. I have worked with clients of
varying levels of cognitive function, with conditions ranging from cerebral palsy to autism
to severely debilitating seizures. It is vital to figure out ways to personally connect with
each individual client in order to help him or her help themselves. Finding ways to relate to
individuals who tend to be difficult to work with is a valuable skill in many environments,
but has already been especially useful to my teaching experience thus far.

Thank you for taking the time to review each of my artifacts, and I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,
Jessica Garner