mi UNIVERSITY oF seit __URBAN INSTITUTE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION Colge of Edvestion, 1721 Campus Center Drive fn 2260 Sale Lae hy, tah 4112 801 81.7158 FAX 15813609 wanton March 6, 2016 To Whom It May Concern: Mr. Sam DeMonja has requested | write a letter of recommendation for his application for secondary teaching positions in Spanish and History. It is without hesitation | do so. | have known Sam, for almost a year, as his Field Practicum and Student Teaching Supervisor. During this time, | have observed Sam as he completed his ESL endorsement hours and, now, student teaching in Spanish. Thave worked in public education as a teacher, principal and Associate Superintendent and, during this time, | have interviewed, hired and supervised hundred’s of teachers. I would, without any concern or hesitation, hire Sam for a Middle School, Junior High or High School teaching position. While Sam is ‘completing his student teaching in a high school, I have no reservations about him teaching ina middle school. In fact, when Sam was determining his student teaching placement, I encouraged him to consider middle school because | thought he had the skills and personal characteristics to relate to this age group. Sam is doing exceptionally well at completing his student teaching. He is open and receptive to collaboration and constructive feedback from his site teacher and university supervisor. Mr. DeMonja is able to take feedback, suggestions and specific teaching strategies and interpret them, as to how they apply to his teaching and the students he is working with, and successfully incorporate them, Sam is prepared, on a daily basis, and has implemented a very effective classroom management and incentive program that has reduced or eliminated any concern for off task or disruptive behavior. Students have been very responsive to Mr. DeMonja and show interest in the variety of learning activities that are provided in classroom learning. ‘Sam has been comfortable allowing students to work in small groups and pairs and has been able to move about the room, monitoring understanding and completion of tasks, which allows for re-teaching, corrections and reinforcement of individual student learning. He applies the content to real-world experiences and has been involved in higher level application of the content than any other student teacher | have worked with in the last 10 years. Mr. DeMonja is doing so well, that his site teacher has requested he be her long-term substitute, when he completes his student teaching, for the remainder of the year. The school administration and district human resources department have approvedSam serving as a long-term sub and I strongly support his working in this capacity. It will be good experience for him but, even more, it will be beneficial to the students, Students will have a substitute teacher they know and who will teach at the level of their regular classroom teacher. Thighly encourage you to interview and consider Mr. DeMonja for a teaching position. He will be an asset to any faculty for which he chooses to accept a contract. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, if I can provide additional information or answer specific questions that I haven't addressed in this written recommendation. | can be reached at the following: rickie.mccandless@utah.edu or 801-759-6655. Sincerely, echer MM Cau dD laee Rickie McCandless University of Utah, College of Education UITE Supervisor