December 29th, 2015

To whom it may concern:

Haylee Hanson spent ten weeks observing, assisting, and teaching in my first grade classroom at the
American School of Brasilia, Brazil during the fall semester of 2015. She interacted with 21 students,
ranging in abilities, especially English language proficiency. As Ms. Hansons cooperating teacher, I
am honored and pleased to write this letter on her behalf.
Ms. Hansons passion for education is evident from the moment you meet her. She shows this
passion by committing herself to continuous professional development inside and outside the
classroom. She was consistently asking questions and using this feedback to become a stronger
teacher. I am still impressed with her ability to reflect after a lesson. If an activity was a success she
could identify why, and if an activity did not go as planned, she searched for ways to ensure it would
be better the next time. Her willingness to take suggestions, modify lessons, and experiment with
different strategies shows her commitment to becoming a better educator. Ms. Hanson also
dedicated herself to growing as a professional by attending optional weekend conferences. She
spent numerous hours learning and thinking about ways to implement new ideas in the classroom.
In the short time Ms. Hanson was with us, she was able to build strong, positive relationships with
students. She acted as a wonderful role model, who challenged the class by creating an energized
environment where enthusiasm for learning was displayed throughout all subject areas. Her strong
classroom management allowed students to feel safe and supported. They were aware of Ms.
Hansons expectations and the consequences if those expectations were not met. I was impressed
by her ability to step in a classroom and maintain control.
Ms. Hanson created, instructed, and assessed numerous lessons throughout the ten weeks. She
spent time researching best practices and incorporating these into daily literacy, math, science, and
social studies lessons. Ms. Hanson worked diligently to create engaging lessons that directly related
to standards. Throughout the planning process, Ms. Hanson showed an ability to collaborate with
other grade level teachers, teaching assistants, and support staff. She listened thoughtfully to others
suggestions and contributed some of her own ideas. She was a positive addition to our collaborative
planning meetings.
Ms. Haylee Hanson will be an excellent addition to any school faculty. Her ability to develop strong
relationships with students, her reflective practice in the classroom, and her desire to continually
learn lead me to believe she has the dedication to be a successful teacher. Any school will be lucky
to add her to their staff, but the real winners will be the students she teaches.
Sincerely,

Jacqueline Roche
Jacqueline Roche
First Grade Teacher
American School of Brasilia