Letter of Reference from Principal

December 7, 2011

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing a letter of recommendation for Carol Baker, who is a music teacher in our school. I have had the privilege of knowing Carol for the past six years, and would like to speak to you about the qualities that she brings to our community.

First of all, Carol has great leadership skills within the school. She has been an invaluable member of our school scheduling committee, she has worked hard across the district to further the K-8 music curriculum, and she has facilitated many a faculty discussion around decision-making about fine arts events. She is articulate, both in writing as well as speaking, and is an effective communicator. She exhibits the ability to listen well to others, and take their feedback and ideas, to create workable and meaningful outcomes.

Secondly, Carol is an excellent music teacher. She is aware of a variety of approaches to teaching music, and is constantly broadening her pedagogy based on best-practice. As you will certainly see from her resume, she has attended numerous workshops and courses designed to build her professional knowledge. She regularly integrates this best-practice into her lesson designs, and works to keep the music program fresh and stimulating. She has worked to create interdisciplinary experiences as well, by integrating song, instrumentals, and dance with literature, through performances for the school. As a colleague, she is always more than happy to share her knowledge with others, through a free exchange of ideas.

Lastly, although certainly perhaps the most important, she enjoys children and brings wonderful excitement to their music experience. She creates relevant lesson plans that tap into student interest, and incorporates movement and other modalities into her music lessons. If you walk into a music lesson, students are moving and making music! They are engaged! They are engaged in class, they are engaged in her chorus (which is very well attended), and they are engaged in their numerous whole school performances throughout  the year.

I heartily endorse Carol for any music position for which she is applying, and if you have any questions at all, I am more than happy to talk with you in order to answer them.

Sincerely,

Katherine Barwin, Principal