April 15, 2020

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great enthusiasm that I am writing to you on behalf of Ms. Jessica Schmidt and in
support of her efforts to gain employment with your district. I served as one of two cooperating
teachers at Barrington High School during her student teaching experience in the spring of
2020. In the three months that I worked with Jessica, it was my privilege to watch her develop
into an intuitive, capable, and promising educator. Regardless of the class of students, Jessica
proved to be a reflective practitioner who worked diligently to adjust her practice to meet the
needs of her students.

Early in her role as a student teacher, Jessica took over the classroom instruction and worked
diligently to establish a welcoming but structured classroom environment. As a result, she
quickly gained the trust and respect of the students. She applied that same focused attention
when preparing her instruction. She planned each lesson in a deliberate, thoughtful manner,
conferencing with me about key concepts and topics to be taught, the scope and sequence of
the skills and concepts, and the method of delivery. Her lessons were purposeful, based in
rigorous standards, and crafted with student needs at the core of her decision making. She used
a variety of approaches and high interest materials in order to enhance student engagement
and comprehension. Jessica also proved to be highly adept at incorporating a variety of
educational technologies into her daily lessons in order to enhance the students’ experience
and learning. In my twenty-two years of teaching, I have mentored a number of high quality
student teachers, but Jessica stands out as the most reflective and adaptive of them all. She
welcomed and even anticipated suggestions for improvements in her delivery or lesson design
and adjusted her practice in the next class period. She also spent considerable time giving
specific and instructive feedback when assessing student work and followed up with students
to ensure they applied that feedback in order to grow. She kept careful records and
communicated regularly with students, parents, and her academic peers. She also asked
questions and listened attentively to the veteran teachers within our department, showing an
interest in learning from experienced educators and respecting their perspectives and
expertise, particularly when it concerned classroom management. She learned quickly that
even the best of lessons will not be effective if there is a breakdown in the learning
environment. In that area alone, Jessica demonstrated tremendous awareness and growth. She
developed an effective and respectful classroom environment while showing professionalism
and authority. Jessica makes every effort to connect with her students and to provide a
continuity of instruction to ensure the learning environment is maintained.

Jessica most certainly has the heart, the disposition, and the work ethic to become a highly
effective educator. She has a strong command of the subject matter and a deep awareness of
available resources to improve comprehension and thus instruction. She thoroughly prepares,

Barrington High School | www.barrington220.org | 616 West Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
which allows her to enter the classroom confidently and creatively. Jessica’s professional
demeanor allows her to establish a trustworthy rapport with her students that encourages their
best efforts. Her careful attention to detail and the genial atmosphere she creates in the
classroom will no doubt make her a beloved teacher in the years to come.

Jessica took full advantage of her student teaching experience, conducting herself in a mature
and professional manner. It is my belief that she has a bright future in education, and I have
full confidence in her ability to grow and develop into an effective, dynamic educator. It is
therefore without hesitation that I recommend her for employment in your district, knowing
that your students will be the beneficiaries of quality instruction. If you desire any further
information that I might provide concerning Jessica, please feel free to contact me at
Barrington High School at (847) 842-3269 or hrockwell@barrington220.org.

Sincerely,

Heidi Rockwell
National Board Certified Teacher & Mentor
English & Social Studies Departments
Barrington High School
Barrington, Illinois

Barrington High School | www.barrington220.org | 616 West Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010