July 15, 2019

To Whom It May Concern:

I highly recommend Mina Blyly-Strauss as a candidate for a teaching position in your school
district. I have known Mina for 7 years as we have worked collaboratively to support students in
special education receiving homebound instruction. In the time that I've known Mina, she has
been committed to providing high quality education to students receiving homebound
instruction. She is knowledgeable of many types of disabilities and how those disabilities impact
learning for individual students.

Mina has demonstrated the ability to effectively communicate with schools and families of
different cultures. One family in particular, has expressed their deep appreciation for Mina's high
quality instruction and her ability to adapt to the unique environment in their culturally diverse
home. In turn, Mina has been able to support the team back at the school with understanding and
communication with the family.

Mina has shown diligence in connecting with teachers to get the necessary curriculum and
materials needed to provide high quality instruction in the home setting. Mina is able to
successfully teach curriculum across all grade levels; if there is anything she does not
understand, she will seek clarification. Because all of the students that Mina teaches have unique
situations and learning needs (not unlike students in classrooms), Mina has become
knowledgeable of many different accommodations and modifications to use in order to support
her students' learning. Mina is aware of many different interventions and is well-practiced in
using them.

In order for her students to be successful in their home setting, Mina also reaches out to related
service professionals on the students' IEP teams (eg. Occupational, Physical, Speech therapists).
Mina uses many types of assistive technology with her students as well. Along with all of the
things described above, Mina also goes beyond her job description to attend many IEP meetings
in order to build a bridge between the homebound instruction and the school the student typically
attends. Mina also contributes significantly to student special education evaluations by being
interviewed by school personnel and providing student work and data.

Mina accomplishes all these tasks with great initiative, punctuality, and an open mind. I
recommend Mina to you without reservation. If you have any further questions with regard to her
background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Tsakistos

Lindsay Tsakistos
Physical/Health Disabilities, Minneapolis Public Schools
Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg University
Lindsay.tsakistos@mpls.k12.mn.us
612-220-3780