May 22, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the privilege of knowing Katherine since her sophomore year at Frank W.
Cox High School when she was in my Honors English 10 Literature class. There is a
steadiness about Katherine that is quite remarkable to see in a high school student.
In class discussions, which could become robust, her voice maintained a firm but
gentle cadence, earning her peers respect. Graceful as well as grace-giving,
Katherine exudes warmth to those around her. This is one of Katherines best
attributes and one of the many reasons her peers and teachers enjoy working with
her.

For instance, others know that when they speak, Katherine listens, genuinely and
with an open mind. This is such an important aspect of being an educator. This
ability, in part, has been nurtured by her volunteer work mentoring an at-risk
student in a local elementary school. It is not unusual to see Katherine volunteering
her time to serve the community. As many educators do, Katherine uses her talents
in service to others. She freely gives her time and talents to perform dance pieces
in various nursing homes in the area. She also teaches dance and runs summer
dance camps for children in the community. Additionally, Katherine volunteers as a
peer tutor at school.

Katherine is able to balance these activities and other commitments outside of

school because of her ability to organize her work and manage her time efficiently.
In fact, all of Katherines work for my class was exemplary and far exceeded
expectations and requirements. She did not miss assignments or misplace notes or
handouts. Moreover, Katherines involvement with the Virginia Ballet Company
required she miss a few class periods. Not only did she complete most of the work
before her absence, she communicated directly with me about the absence and
took it upon herself to make a task list for herself using the class website. This
speaks to Katherines maturity and responsibility that are superior to her peers.

Katherine is an extraordinary young woman with incredible potential. She is

steadfast, curious and intellectually conscientious, guaranteeing she will be
successful in whatever endeavors she pursues. As a future educator, she will surely
be a model for the profession as she has all of the qualities of a successful and
influential educator.

Respectfully,

Colleen Paine

Colleen Paine
English Department
Frank W. Cox High School
Colleen.Paine@VBSchools.com