Letter of Recommendation in support of Ms.

Monica Gomez:

From August to December 2023, Ms. Gomez participated in her pre-service student teaching
with me at John Hancock College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois. During her time teaching
students English I and English III, she demonstrated growth in her ability to build rapport with students,
build their academic skills, assess their mastery of skills, and manage all aspects of the teaching
profession. This growth gives me confidence when recommending Ms. Gomez for high school and
elementary school Language Arts teaching positions.

One of Ms. Gomez’s specific strengths is building rapport with students in a way that gains their
trust and fosters respect in the classroom. This skill allows students to have a sense of comfort in her
classroom, yet she also maintains an academic environment that sets the expectation of academic
learning. As she enters the teaching profession at your school, she will use this strength to help your
students build foundational skills in Language Arts.

One example of this skill in practice was when one student was not completing writing
assignments at the beginning of her pre-service teaching. She was quick to contact the student’s
guardian and establish a relationship with the family. After learning that the student lacked confidence
in his writing and often avoided writing assignments because of this issue, she was able to get
supported encouragement to the student. From there, the student attended two study sessions where
Ms. Gomez was able to help him engage in growth mindset, guide him through the writing roadblocks,
and help him set goals for completing this and future writing projects. Because she was able to build
this rapport with him, he continues to grow in his language and writing skills.

Again, I am confident that Ms. Gomez is prepared to enter the teaching profession, and your
school may be the right fit for her. If you have any questions, please contact me at the email address
and/or phone number listed below. I am most accessible through email; if you call, please leave a
message so I can return your call quickly.

Paul Mirek
pdmirek@cps.edu
773-742-1996

We embody respect, integrity, and responsibility for the betterment of ourselves, our family, and our community.
Ms. Vanessa Puentes Hernandez, Principal | Ms. Violeta Cerna-Prado, Assistant Principal
5437 W. 64th Place | Phone: 773-535-2410 | Fax: 773-535-2434 | www.hancockhs.org