February 20, 2015

To Whom It May Concern,

As an instructional coach and graduation coach in the Dubuque Community School District, Ive
worked with teachers on curriculum, assessment, and instructional strategies. These include formative
and summative assessment, differentiated instruction, unit and lesson design, classroom management,
and student engagement principles, to name a few. During this time, Ive had the pleasure to work with
Mike Kennedy, a very talented social studies teacher who has a strong foundation in the
aforementioned topics.
What impresses me most about Mike is his flexible and adaptive nature. When he sees that
students in the alternative education Connect program are struggling academically in his class, he will
change the materials or assignment to meet their needs, without compromising the learning targets.
He constantly differentiates instruction for students, and provides them many accommodations and
opportunities to be successful in his classes.
Mike has endless patience. He works tirelessly with students when they have difficulties with social
studies concepts amidst their other numerous life obstacles. He truly makes every day a new day with
every student who may have struggled the day before in his class. He maintains a positive attitude and
a focus on student emotional and academic growth and achievement.
One of my favorite things to work with Mike on is lesson and unit design. He researches, and seeks out
advice about how to make his lessons engaging and applicable. He incorporates technology and works
to improve his infusion of 21st Century skills from our district continuum. He uses many different
instructional strategies, including PBL, to hook the kids and keep them interested in global issues.
Mike provides leadership within the Connect program by creating monthly newsletters for the parents.
He co-chairs a faculty committee dedicated to increasing student and parent involvement in our
programs. His potential as an educational leader is immense. He's a talented teacher with a strong
work ethic and dedication to the success of all students. He will be a great addition to any leadership
team.

Sincerely,

Lisa Lueken
Graduation Coach for Alternative Programs
Dubuque Community School District
llueken@dbqschools.org
563-552-5806