Sutherland High School

55 Sutherland Street
Pittsford, NY 14534
Mark Puma, Principal 585.267.1100
Sumara Case, Ed.D., Assistant Principal Fax: 585.218.1143
Jennifer Marren, Assistant Principal www.pittsfordschools.org

January 20, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

I am most pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Ashley Maynard. During the 2021-
2022 school year, Ashley has worked as an intern at Sutherland High School, where I have had
the pleasure of working with her and watching her prepare for employment as a school
psychologist. As the school psychologist and special education coordinator in the building, as well
as the district’s Standards Leader for the School Psychology Department, I am very familiar with
Ashley’s work in the district and her skills as they relate to the field of school psychology.

Ashley has impressed me since the school year began in September; it was clear from the
beginning that she came to the internship position well-prepared and ready to contribute to our
district. She has effectively balanced her time and responsibilities across two buildings in the
district, and she has demonstrated her ability to prioritize and work efficiently. Ashley embodies
the personal characteristics of a school psychologist. She is prompt, dependable, professional,
and reliable. She is independent, and she demonstrates excellent initiative. She has completed
numerous psychological evaluations, maintained ongoing counseling relationships with many
students, and engaged in ongoing collaboration and consultation with staff, administration, and
parents. In addition, her communication skills are well-developed, both verbal and written.

Assessment has been a natural component of Ashley’s internship experience here at Sutherland.
Her assesment skills are particularly well-developed. She is thoughtful about the assessment
instruments that she chooses, and she takes into account the student’s educational history and
current presenting concerns. Ashley takes a comprehensive approach to her assessment practices,
gathering information from multiple sources and utilizing a variety of assessment methods. In
addition, she has strong writing skills, making her reports reader-friendly to students, parents,
and school professionals. When presenting data to parents and staff, Ashley gives a thorough
explanation and ensures that her audience has a clear understanding of all evaluation results.
She is articulate, and she does a nice job of explaining test performance and relevant implications
in the school setting.

As an intern at Sutherland High School, Ashley has worked with a variety of educational
professionals. Throughout the year, these staff members have shared with me their respect for
Ashley’s professionalism and her competence. Ashley’s collaborative skills are well developed,
and she is an active and valued member of a number of buiding- and district-level teams. Her
warm demeanor and solid interpersonal skills make collaborative relationships positive and
effective. She communicates professionally and effectively with staff, students, and parents alike.
Ashley brings a contemporary perspective to the buildling’s team discussions, and she confidently
participates in collaborative groups.

Most impressive to me has been Ashley’s ability to forge positive and collaborative relationships
with students and parents. I frequently observe interns to lack confidence when working with
parents, and as a result, many interns tend to shy away from direct parent contact. Throughout
her internship, Ashley has demonstrated the opposite attribute; rather than hesitating to involve
parents, she consistently reaches out to parents both proactively and to discuss concerns that
arise. Equally noteworthy to me has been her comfort level and professionalism in maintaining
ongoing relationships with parents. She does not rely on email as an indirect form of
communication, but instead personally reaches parents by phone to have a more intimite
conversation. Ashley appreciates that many nuances of social communication can be lost in email
correspondance, and she sees the value in investing her time in direct personal communication.

Ashley is well-prepared for a career as a school psychologist, and she will be a valued contributor
to any school district. She embodies the characteristics of a true professional; she is thorough,
well organized, and efficient. It is without reservation that I recommend Ashley for a school
psychologist position; a district would be fortunate to have her as a member of their faculty.

Please feel free to contact me at the number below for further information.

Respectfully,

Jessica LeVan, M.S., C.A.S., M.S.Ed.

School Psychologist and Student Services Teacher
PCSD Standards Leader for School Psychology
Sutherland High School
jessica_levan@pittsford.monroe.edu
(585) 267-3443