December 22, 2014

Director, Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award Committee

Chevy Chase Elementary School
4015 Rosemary Street
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
Dear Director,
We are writing this letter to recommend Amy Gleason for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding
Teacher award. We have gotten to know Mrs. Gleason extremely well, and have had the
privilege of watching her positively influence the lives of so many students, parents and
colleagues through her strong interpersonal skills and energetic teaching style.
It is truly exceptional to find an educator that is able to consistently engage students through
well conceived and passionately delivered lesson plans. We have witnessed, first hand, Mrs.
Gleason's teaching style in a variety of settings, from open house events at Chevy Chase
Elementary School to extra-curricular venues outside of the classroom. In each of these
teaching environments, we have observed the highest levels of student engagement that
leave them with a strong desire to learn and achieve.
A shared characteristics of outstanding educators is the ability to employ a variety of media to
build interest in lesson plans and encourage students of varied learning styles to thrive in the
classroom. Mrs. Gleason is keenly aware of diverse learning styles and develops lesson
plans to accommodate the needs of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners. For example, a
typical lesson plan includes slide shows with visual emphasis for visual learners, while
incorporating stories that keep auditory learners engaged. To reinforce lesson plans, Mrs.
Gleason will add group activities and games that are particularly effective with kinesthetic
learners. Each of these teaching approaches individually connect with specific learning
styles and collectively deliver dynamic lesson plans that reinforce teaching points.
Without question, the depth of Mrs. Gleason's knowledge in areas of science and social
studies is extraordinary. Her ability to expand classroom discussions well beyond the scope
of any lesson plan demonstrates her expertise in the coursework that she teaches.
Moreover, in discussions with parents and colleagues, she is able to speak with great depth
in either science or social studies. We were recently engaged in a conversation with Mrs.
Gleason about the first rulers of the Roman Empire, and were impressed by her ability to
discuss some of the finer points of the achievements and vices of each emperor.
The classroom is an excellent indicator of an educator's teaching style and can establish a
positive tone for his or her students. Mrs. Gleason's classroom is always well-organized and
facilitates planned classroom activities. Student desks are arranged in a clustered fashion, to
enable group discussions and team projects. The walls feature inspirational posters that
reinforce Mrs. Gleason's teaching sensibilities that encourage teamwork and foster success
in the classroom.
While the basic mission of any educator is to teach the subject matter outlined in the school's
curriculum, the influence of truly exceptional teachers extends well beyond the classroom.
Many of Mrs. Gleason's former students routinely return to Chevy Chase Elementary School
to share their middle- and high-school experiences and challenges. Mrs. Gleason is
generous with her time, and always makes a genuine effort to understand their issues while
providing positive guidance. When confronted with a student who is struggling, We have

often heard Mrs. Gleason ask "can you name three positive things that have happened to
you today?" This question is a good example of how Mrs. Gleason helps her students (past
and present) navigate their way through their elementary and middle school experiences.
Leadership is often easy to identify and difficult to find. Mrs. Gleason exudes leadership and
demonstrates this trait through her service to the school and the community. As the leader of
the sixth-grade teaching team, she has established a collaborative and complimentary
relationship between four teachers whose personalities are as diverse as their teaching
styles. The resulting dynamic not only benefits the students in Mrs. Gleason's class, but all of
the sixth-grade students at Chevy Chase Elementary School.
Thank you for your attention, and I hope that you are equally enthusiastic as we are about
Mrs. Gleason's candidacy for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.
Sincerely,

Ed and Deb Toro