S C H O O L O F E D U C AT I O N

April 13, 2018

To Whom It May Concern:

As Aaron Berner’s University Supervisor, I observed him in his placements with Patricia Maxson and Susan
Blackmer at Analy High School over the spring term of January- June of 2018. In addition I was his
instructor for the credential course EDSS446 in the fall preceding his student teaching placement.

Aaron is in the very top percentile of students and student teachers with whom I have worked. He is
studious, warm, genuinely interested in his students and their progress, and demonstrates a rigorous
attitude towards curriculum development and all aspects of learning to be a teacher. It has been especially
rewarding to see him grow and shine in the classroom this term. He has something I find, as a previous
school administrator, to be particularly rare; an ability to see where he might have erred, and an enthusiasm
and eagerness to find the solutions that might make his choices better. I watched him grow by leaps and
bounds in the visits I made across the early months of this year. He has a natural talent for noticing what a
student might be missing and why. He has worked in other settings than the general ed. classroom, and it
has informed him very well. He understands his role extends to the whole student’s experience, and he is
willing to engage with his students in relation to their work in such a way that they feel respected, valued
and challenged to do their best. He manages to get students to invest in the work!

Since I also got to work with him as a student, I can speak to his diligence, habits of mind and overall
rigorous curiosity about curriculum development and the paths that lead to the maximum success for the
maximum amount of students. In addition I observed him in my class, working in groups and with teams to
produce projects or other assignments; he is a consistent asset in such situations, bringing focus, humor,
insight and productivity to the table. He was a valued partner in his student teaching placement, his
cooperating teachers were thrilled with his progress and with him as a teaching partner.

As a school administrator I was always looking for candidates like Aaron; they don’t come along that often.
He will be an asset to any school community, if I can provide any additional supporting information for his
candidacy in your district or school please contact me.

Sincerely yours,

Jane McDonough
mcdonouj@sonoma.edu

1801 E. Cotati Ave. Rohnert Park, CA 94928 T 707-664-2880 W www.sonoma.edu C 707 540 5179