March

13, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this correspondence as a recommendation for Ms. Maddie Koontz. I am aware of Ms.
Koontzs teaching preparation and expertise because I serve as the college supervisor for her student
teaching placements.

Ms. Koontz is intelligent, knowledgeable, organized and enthusiastic about teaching. She is an excellent
student with a current GPA of 3.63 and she is a Delta Kappa Gamma Virginia Scholars Award Winner. In
addition she has the noteworthy designation as a Teacher of Promise.

As a student teacher, Ms. Koontzs instructional planning is strong. She utilizes student learning data and
standards to plan her instruction. In addition, she plans for excellent, engaging learning activities and
she continues to develop strategies for differentiating instruction based on students needs, interests
and learning preferences. During instruction, Ms. Koontz builds on existing knowledge and connects the
learning to higher levels of thinking. Students are engaged and Ms. Koontz consistently checks for
understanding from the group and from individual students. Her demeanor and the relationships she
has built with her students provide for a safe and appropriate classroom environment. There is little
downtime as she incorporates procedural reminders prior to transitions. In addition, she utilizes praise
and positive reinforcement so that students are motivated to stay on task.

Finally, Ms. Koontz was selected to participate in the Lynchburg College Mentor Teacher/Cooperating
Teacher Support Program. This is a pilot program designed to enhance conversation centered on
effective teaching practices. As a participant in the program, Ms. Koontz, her cooperating teacher and I
have utilized New Teacher Center, Santa Cruz mentoring/coaching strategies and tools such as the
Virginia Continuum of Teacher Development and the Collaborative Assessment log to deepen
opportunities for reflection and to reinforce appropriate/effective teaching habits of mind. As a
result, Ms. Koontzs ability to reflect on her instruction and to convey her thinking regarding teaching
goals/next steps is ahead of the norm for those entering their first year in our profession.

I highly recommend Ms. Koontz for an elementary teaching position in your school division. If you have
questions, please contact me at 434-544-8515.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Mayhew, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Program
Lynchburg College