March 23, 2014

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing on behalf of Adam Cooper, who is a teaching fellow at The Bay School of San Francisco during
the 2013-14 school year. As this is the first year of our fellows program, we conducted a thorough and extensive
search for highly qualified candidates. Adam Cooper has exceeded our expectations on several fronts, and he has set
a standard for the qualities a beginning teacher should possess.
When I first met Adam, I was immediately struck by his thoughtful and probing questions about our school
culture, teaching expectations, and curricula. Throughout the school year, Adam played a significant role in
numerous facets of our school community. In addition to teaching Chemistry and Physics courses, he has served as a
co-advisor for six ninth graders, has served as an assistant to our school’s sailing team (including traveling to
regattas across the state of California), has attended our school’s Teaching Seminars (in-house professional
development), is co-leading a cycling Intersession activity, and is a member of Bay’s Teacher Support, Development,
and Evaluation committee. Whether teaching in the classroom or serving as a pivotal member of our school
community, Adam makes an impression on his students and colleagues, and despite being new to the profession,
Adam is unafraid to take risks and share his voice.
I have worked closely with Adam on his teaching practice, and throughout the school year, I have observed
him in both his Physics and Chemistry classes. We meet bi-weekly to discuss my observations and to review Adam’s
questions. Adam’s striking and distinguished characteristic is his ability to accept and incorporate feedback into his
teaching. Whether we’re discussing formative assessments, checking for understanding, or clarity of expectations,
Adam is eager to try to new approaches to ensure his students are learning as much as they can about the material.
Adam also incorporates frequent student feedback into his lesson planning, and I have watched him revise his
Physics class to ensure students are learning in ways that are both challenging and developmentally appropriate. I
have never worked with a teacher who so openly and humbly accepts feedback. For a new teacher, this quality is
what makes him a standout—and an ideal member of any school community. Our school’s Dean of Faculty and
members of the science team also observed these behaviors in Adam, and consequently, he brought a fresh lens to
the 9th grade Physics curriculum in particular.
In a very short period of time, Adam has demonstrated a natural knack for teaching that allowed me to serve
as more of a support resource than a teacher educator. I have been duly impressed by Adam’s meticulous approach
to his lessons, his presence in the classroom, his use of education-specific technologies in the classroom, and his
rapport with the students. At this point in the school year, I feel like I am working with a teacher who is in his first
few years of the profession rather than someone brand new to the classroom environment.
In conjunction with developing his teaching craft in the classroom and during our bi-weekly meetings, Adam
also attends The Bay School’s monthly Teaching Seminars, which provide all faculty on-site professional
development in areas ranging from formative assessment to innovation in the classroom. Adam recently attended a
Teaching Seminar where he provided thoughtful questions and feedback on another teacher’s assessments, and he
led the charge in the discussion on embodied learning techniques. Through his work in these seminars, he has
emerged as a thoughtful educator who plays an equal role in the conversations about teaching and learning.
Working with Adam this year has been a professional highlight. In his six months at The Bay School, Adam
has established a strong foundation for his growth in this profession. Any school would be fortunate to have Adam
Cooper as a member of their teaching faculty, and I enthusiastically recommend him for a position at your institution.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Lori Cohen
Humanities Instructor
Coordinator, The Bay School Teaching Fellows Program

35 KEYES AVENUE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94129-0610 TEL 415.561.5800 FAX 415.561.5808

www.bayschoolsf.org