To whom it may concern:

Im writing to you on behalf of Elizabeth Pittel, a student intern from Michigan State University I
was fortunate to mentor during the 2016-2017 academic year. From the first meeting with
Elizabeth, I knew she was going to be a hard-working teacher and easy to work with. Over the
course of her student-teaching experience, she exceeded those expectations as far as work
ethic, but also in her creativity in developing lessons, her genuine concern for individual
students, and her content knowledge and understanding. In short, she has been a pleasure to
mentor, and I highly recommend her for any secondary teaching position.

Elizabeth worked well as part of an established team of ELA sophomore teachers. With their
help initially, she designed curriculum and lessons addressing reading, writing, and thinking
skills. Eventually, she began to tweak those other teachers lessons and assignments
effectively to fit her teaching style and her students learning. Still, she aligned with the teams
objectives and assigned the same formative assessments, even as she started to create her
own formative activities and assessments. This is one of the traits I want to praise about
Elizabeth: her ability to work with others professionally, while working autonomously to create
her own classroom. She is both respectful and confident.

Elizabeths respect for others, her concern for others, is another reason its so easy to write a
recommendation for her. For every lesson planned or delivered, she was very sensitive to how
students would react and respond. For example, while introducing John Steinbecks Of Mice
and Men, she spent an entire lesson discussing the treatment of special needs people, including
the use of insensitive language (the R-word). Her heart-felt, personalized message stuck with
students throughout the year. This, however, is only one example. She addressed indivdual
students needs, personal challenges, and issues both thoughtfully and professionally. One
student with a particularly troubled home-life was continually allowed extensions on
assignments, as well as one-on-one check ins at Miss Pittels desk. Also at her desk, students
could pull from a jar full of inspirational comments and quotes. This was an invite to anyone
whenever they needed it. In fact, Miss Pittels attention to her individual students has also been
inspiring for me in my own teaching. After so many years of teaching, we can forget how
important those personal connections can be, and I've been reminded why of their importance in
the way students have responded positively academically and socially to Miss Pittel.

Elizabeth's own academic background is apparent in her content knowledge and teaching
practice. She is aware of the latest best practice strategies and able to utilize these theories
effectively. Throughout a study of Tim OBriens The Things They Carried in our senior class,
she used several strategies from Kelly Gallaghers reading book Deeper Reading and
Readicide. Specifically, Elizabeth guided this reading unit with Gallaghers concept of second
draft readings and group discussions. The students focused on the reading sections assigned,
and were asked weekly to come back to specific passages to go deeper for understanding.
Students reading pleasure was enhanced, and their understanding of OBriens themes and
crafts were discussed effectively as well.
In addition, Elizabeth held Socratic Seminars in all the classes she taught, successfully
encouraging students to speak intelligently and respectfully about literary works and current
issues. She also applied Ron Ritchharts thinking routines throughout her internship, and in a
fiction writing unit with our sophomore students, she used strategies from Penny Kittles book
Write Beside Them. This unit was a particularly successful unit, designed singularly by Miss
Pittel. Although she integrated several ideas from the latest best practice gurus, many of the
ideas came from her own creativity.

There are so many reasons I would recommend Miss Pittel for a secondary teaching position.
The only reservation I have for writing Elizabeth this letter is that I will miss having her in my
own classroom, in my building. Her creativity, work ethic, intelligence, and genuine love for
teaching and kids will enhance any classroom, school, and district.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Greg Warner
ELA and History teacher
Clarkston High School