January 25, 2018

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept my enthusiastic recommendation of Michael McGroarty for the position of English teacher
at your school. Having worked closely with Michael as his UCLA Extension support provider, I can attest
to his high level of competence, professionalism, and creativity in the classroom.

As required by UCLA’s rigorous intern teacher-training program, I observed Michael teach on ten
occasions, discussing with him the strengths and possible areas of improvement in his lessons. Michael
was always receptive to my feedback, displaying a genuine desire to bring the best of himself to his
students. His willingness to incorporate and consistently value student-voice was a highlight of our
collaboration together.

It was a pleasure to witness Michael develop a rapport with his Grade 8 students over the course of the
year. An environment of mutual respect was evident from the start, evolving into a safe place for students
to “take risks.” I often witnessed his students up on their feet, physically and creatively engaging each
other as they explored a text. Whether it was during a lesson on academic language or the contemporary
relevance of Our Town, Michael’s students were comfortable demonstrating their learning though
presentation and performance as well as formal writing.

Michael is an organized and communicative professional, able to meet deadlines consistently (and often
early). Through conscientious planning and discipline, Michael was successful in balancing the
competing demands of teaching, coursework, and family life. I am aware that as a result of his efforts,
Michael was given the opportunity to move with his students to Grade 9 as well as teach an upper-level
Journalism elective.

I’m confident that Michael will make valuable and lasting contributions to your school. Please contact me
if you would like to hear more about the fantastic things Michael implements dynamically into his
classroom and his authentic caring of all students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brooke Soles

bsoles@g.ucla.edu

Cell: 310-801-0523