L.W.

Batchelder School
PAUL CASEY DR. DIANE KUTSAVAGE-PRESCOD
PRINCIPAL ASSISANT PRINCIPAL

March 2017

This letter of recommendation is for Allison Rainwater, music intern at Batchelder School. Allison has
spent her Masters internship from September 2016 through May of 2017 at our school. I currently
serve as the music teacher for the school. Allison is a friendly woman who always conducts herself in a
professional manner with parents, staff and students. I highly recommend her for a position at your
school.

Over the past year Allison has taught at Batchelder, an urban school serving nearly 500 low-income
students from grades PreK-8. Her ability to instruct such a wide age range makes her a prime candidate
for an elementary and/or middle school position. Her duties included general music instruction for all
students in grades Preschool through eight, chorus, concert band and rock band.

Allison has many attributes that make her an outstanding teacher. Serving such a wide range of
children at Batchelder, she has become as comfortable managing a group of preschool students as she
does eighth graders. She is a distinguished musician who utilized her talents in the classroom not only
by singing but also on piano, ukulele and concert band instruments.

During her time at Batchelder Allison helped to establish an instrumental music program at our school.
Our school had not had an instrumental (concert band) program in several years. She was a huge asset
in acquiring new and used instruments (including a flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and oboe),
supplies and other resources to get this program running. Allison also demonstrated skills in instrument
repair, as many of our instruments had been kept in storage for quite some time and needed minor
adjustments to make them playable. She taught lesson groups to each instrument including flute,
clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and trombone. Her Masters inquiry project also involved many of these
students; specifically, how their involvement in this program affected behaviors in other classrooms.
Her enthusiasm in establishing this new program with me transcended to our students, as they exuded
great self-confidence in this new musical experience.

I am extremely confident that Allison will make an excellent addition to your school. If I can help
advance her as a candidate in any way, please do not hesitate to call me at school (860)695-2744 or on
my cell phone (203)218-4965.

Sincerely,

Jessie Wills
Music Teacher
Batchelder School

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757 New Britain Ave. Hartford CT 06106 www.hartfordschools.org