RaquelB.

Rattray
835DodgeAvenue,Evanston,Illinois60202
(312)4207910
rrattray@auslchicago.org
January20,2014

AUSLPrincipal
3400NAustinAvenue
Chicago,Illinois60634

DearPrincipal:

Ilovebringingjoyintotheclassroomasawayforstudentstobecomeactivelyinvolvedinthelearningprocess.Itis
importantforstudentstodevelopskillsthathelpthembecomebetterlearnersandthinkers.Forstudentstoachieve
thissuccessintheclassroomandintherealworld,schoolsmustprovidestudentswillchallengingconcepts,asafe
andconducivelearningenvironment,andauthenticinstructionthatconnectsschoolsubjectmatterstotheworldin
whichtheylive.

Inordertoaidstudentsontheirpathstowardacademicdevelopmentandgrowth,Ibelievethatlearnersofthe
classroomneedtobesurroundedbyteacherswhomofwhicharewillingtochallengetheirintellectuallevelsand
increasetheiracademiccapacities.

PleaseacceptmyletterofapplicationforahighschoolEnglishteachingpositionatanAUSLSchool.
Throughmyyearlongteachingresidency,Ihavelearnedthequalityinstructionalskillstobecomeasuccessful
urbaneducationteacher.TheAcademyforUrbanSchoolLeadershiphashelpedmydevelopedmypersonal
pedagogicalmethodofinstructionthathasenabledmetoemploybestteachingandmanagementstrategies.During
myoneyearresidency,I

ImplementedstrategiessuchasThinkPairShare,AskAskAsk,reciprocalteaching,andavarianceof
checkingforunderstandingduring9
th
gradeEnglishclasses
Differentiatedinstructiontoensurethatallstudentshadtheopportunitytolearn
UtilizeJFactorinavarietyofgrammarlessons
SuccessfullyutilizedSignatureStrategiesandemployedbehaviormodificationtechniques
Participatedinprofessionaldevelopmentsessionsaswaytoimproveteachingpractice

Ibelievemypassion,positivecollaborativeskills,andrelentlessefforttomasterthedemandingartofteachingmake
meaperfectcandidateforanAUSLSchool.Ilookforwardtospeakingwithyouabouthopetodiscussthemission,
vision,andgoalsofyourschoolandhowIcouldbecomeanactivememberinhelpingyouachievethem.

Sincerely,

RaquelB.Rattray
Enclosure:Resume
RaquelB.Rattray
835DodgeAvenue,Evanston,Illinois60202
(312)4207910
rrattray@auslchicago.org

PlacementPreference

SeekingaHighSchoolEnglishpositionEndorsedinMiddleSchoolEducation(inprogress).

Education

NationalLouisUniversity,MasterofUrbanEducationinTeaching(inprogress) June,2014

IllinoisStateUniversity,BachelorofLiberalArtsinEnglishEducation May2011
MinorinSpanish
GraduatedCumLaude

Credentials

ProfessionalEducatorLicensewithendorsementsinMiddleSchool68(inprogress)HighSchoolEnglish912.

TeachingExperience

ChicagoAcademyHighSchool,Chicago,Illinois20132014
9thGradeResidentTeacher
AcademyforUrbanLeadership

Planned,coplanned,andorganizedavarietyoflessonsforvariousunitsin9
th
gradeHonorsandRegular
Englishclasswithafocusonreadingandwriting
ReceivedtrainingforonefullacademicyearatChicagoAcademyHighundertheassistanceofamentor
teacher
Assistedmentorteacherinthedevelopmentofdailyandweeklylessons
Instructedanethnicallydiversepopulationoflearners,usingauthenticinstructionfordiverselearning
Composedandperformeddifferentrapsongsandotherengagementstrategies

CollinsAcademyHighSchool,Chicago,IllinoisWinter2010
9thGradeStudentTeacher
IllinoisStateUniversity
Aidedcooperatingteacherwiththecoordinationofdailyandweeklylessonplans
Planned,developed,andorganizedlessonsfortheunitKnowledgeOpensDoorswithafocusonreading
andwritingin9
th
gradeEnglish
Createdandimplementedgrammarminilessonscenteredaroundsingularandpluralpronounsand
possessivenounsusingHipHopsongsSoStressedOutbyATribeCalledQuestandTeachMeHowto
DougiebyCaliSwagDistrict.
Employedbehaviormodificationtechniquesthatrecognizedandawardedgoodbehavior

RelatedTeachingExperience

MatherHighSchool,ChicagoIllinois 20112013
AmundsenHighSchool,Chicago,Illinois
AVIDTutor
Assistedteacherwithinstructionofdailyactivities
Facilitatedsmallgroupinstructionduringpeercollaboration
HelpedstudentsuseCostaslevelofquestioningtodevelopdeepthinkingandquestioningskills
Helpedstudentsdevelopnotetakingabilitiesandorganizationalskills
Helpedstudentslearnhowtoreflectonlearningactivities

DumasTechnologyAcademy,Chicago,Illinois20132014
Dr.RadnersSummerPlusProgram
6
th
GradeTeacherAssistant
AssistedTeacherwithindividualandwholegroupinstructionusingexplicitinstruction
Organizedauthenticlessonsforreading,math,andcivicdevelopment
Helpedstudentslearnhowtoplaythegameofchess

OtherExperiences

EvanstonTownshipHighSchool,Evanston,Illinois20112013
AssistantGirlsVarsityCoach

IllinoisStateWomensSoccerTeam20062010
Participant
CoCaptain,AllValleyFirstTeamSelection,MVCScholarFirstTeamSelection,HeideckeAwardWinner

References

SusanWineburner
ChicagoAcademyHighSchool
MentorTeacher/9
th
GradeEnglishTeacher
swwineburner@gmail.com

MikeNick
ChicagoAcademyHighSchool
MentorResidentCoach
mnick@auslchicago.org