ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLSallisoncarmackfinalportfolio.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/4/6/...PIONEER HIGH...
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PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN 601 West Stadium Boulevard Ann Arbor. Michigan 48103-5898 Telephone (734) 994-2120 FAX (734) 994-2198 http://pioneer.aaps.k1 2.mi.us * Michael D. White Principal Pioneer High School students will be engaged as active and curious learners who embrace the rich diversity of the world around them in pursuit ofproductive and satisfying lives. ~ Mission Statement, 2007 Dear reader, April 15,2012 I have often stated that excellent teachers are first and always excellent students, for the excellent teacher is one who will learn and be prepared to teach every day. The excellent teacher develops with his/her students. It is thus that I give my highest recommendation to Allison Carmack, for she is well on her way to becoming just such a teacher. Before she began her student teaching assignment during the winter/spring quarters of the 2011-2012 school year, Allison learned what I would be teaching for the entire semester, even after she leaves, as well as what she would be responsible for teaching so she could, using the district standards to guide her, create her unit, prepare herself to assist me when she was not teaching, and help me finish the year when she was done with her student teaching assignment. Allison taught a Shakespearian unit to all five of my ninth grade English classes. She managed the diverse temperaments of all classes while teaching fourteen year olds Shakespearean literature. When Shakespeare's language threatened to turn off the students, Allison kept them focused by creating a diverse curriculum that used engaging journal prompts for daily discussion, cartoon video clips to connect Shakespeare's flexibility and humor to the students and select scenes from the play, which she had the students act out in an effort to provide a visual representation of the play that was born of the students' minds, not some Hollywood director's. She did this while learning to deal with the adolescent resistance of some students that so many beginning teachers struggle to deal with. Allison was introduced to the frustrations and difficulties all teachers endure, and she has grown as a result of it. She learned that a smile and a caring nod, or an understanding response and her firm assurance that the students will get this if they just stick with it work wonders by showing students that you believe in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. While these events demonstrate Allison's development, desire and creativity, it was her daily reflections and discussions with me of what had taken place and what could be better next time that seem to set Allison apart from most beginning teachers I have seen. Often, we are too focused on what we need to get done, and we fail to assess what we have done. Allison will arrive at your institution of learning with this introspective skill, which is perhaps the most important skill a teacher must possess. Allison has established herself as a member of our English department by sharing and receiving ideas from the whole staff while participating in the development of two new courses for our English/Language Arts curriculum. In a very short time, she has learned that effective teachers are part of a community that, together, works for the development of the individuals in their charge. Allison understands the learning and work she must engage in to be prepared each day. Indeed, Allison has arrived each day, on time, ready to work and conducted herself in a professional manner befitting one who is responsible for the education of our youth. Allison is ready to begin her journey as a teacher because she is ready to learn with those and from those she instructs because she recognizes that she has much to learn about the art of teaching. An excellent teacher never assumes that s/he knows it all. Allison is at the beginning of her development as a teacher, and what makes her exceptional is the fact that she knows this. It should be clear that I have faith in Allison Carmack and her ability to develop into an exceptional teacher. She is intelligent, confident, poised and humble. The only thing she needs is an opportunity. If I can be of any further assistance, feel free to contact me at [email protected], (734) 994-2120 ext. 38618 or (734) 544-4401. Russell Gregory Sansbury English/Language Arts Teacher The Ann Arbor Public Schools, working with families and the community, will educate and empower every student to succeed in a changing environment, as a responsible participant in a democratic society.
Transcript of ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLSallisoncarmackfinalportfolio.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/4/6/...PIONEER HIGH...
PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL A N N A R B O R P U B L I C S C H O O L S
A N N A R B O R M I C H I G A N
601 West Stadium Boulevard Ann Arbor. Michigan 48103-5898
Telephone (734) 994-2120 FAX (734) 994-2198
http://pioneer.aaps.k1 2.mi.us
* Michael D. White
Principal
Pioneer High School students will be engaged as active and curious learners who embrace the rich diversity of the world around them in pursuit ofproductive and satisfying lives.
~ Mission Statement, 2007
Dear reader, April 15,2012
I have often stated that excellent teachers are first and always excellent students, for the excellent teacher is one who will learn and be prepared to teach every day. The excellent teacher develops with his/her students. It is thus that I give my highest recommendation to Allison Carmack, for she is well on her way to becoming just such a teacher. Before she began her student teaching assignment during the winter/spring quarters of the 2011-2012 school year, Allison learned what I would be teaching for the entire semester, even after she leaves, as well as what she would be responsible for teaching so she could, using the district standards to guide her, create her unit, prepare herself to assist me when she was not teaching, and help me finish the year when she was done with her student teaching assignment.
Allison taught a Shakespearian unit to all five of my ninth grade English classes. She managed the diverse temperaments of all classes while teaching fourteen year olds Shakespearean literature. When Shakespeare's language threatened to turn off the students, Allison kept them focused by creating a diverse curriculum that used engaging journal prompts for daily discussion, cartoon video clips to connect Shakespeare's flexibility and humor to the students and select scenes from the play, which she had the students act out in an effort to provide a visual representation of the play that was born of the students' minds, not some Hollywood director's. She did this while learning to deal with the adolescent resistance of some students that so many beginning teachers struggle to deal with. Allison was introduced to the frustrations and difficulties all teachers endure, and she has grown as a result of it. She learned that a smile and a caring nod, or an understanding response and her firm assurance that the students wil l get this i f they just stick with it work wonders by showing students that you believe in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. While these events demonstrate Allison's development, desire and creativity, it was her daily reflections and discussions with me of what had taken place and what could be better next time that seem to set Allison apart from most beginning teachers I have seen. Often, we are too focused on what we need to get done, and we fail to assess what we have done. Allison will arrive at your institution of learning with this introspective skill, which is perhaps the most important skill a teacher must possess.
Allison has established herself as a member of our English department by sharing and receiving ideas from the whole staff while participating in the development of two new courses for our English/Language Arts curriculum. In a very short time, she has learned that effective teachers are part of a community that, together, works for the development of the individuals in their charge.
Allison understands the learning and work she must engage in to be prepared each day. Indeed, Allison has arrived each day, on time, ready to work and conducted herself in a professional manner befitting one who is responsible for the education of our youth. Allison is ready to begin her journey as a teacher because she is ready to learn with those and from those she instructs because she recognizes that she has much to learn about the art of teaching. An excellent teacher never assumes that s/he knows it all. Allison is at the beginning of her development as a teacher, and what makes her exceptional is the fact that she knows this. It should be clear that I have faith in Allison Carmack and her ability to develop into an exceptional teacher. She is intelligent, confident, poised and humble. The only thing she needs is an opportunity. I f I can be of any further assistance, feel free to contact me at [email protected], (734) 994-2120 ext. 38618 or (734) 544-4401.
Russell Gregory Sansbury English/Language Arts Teacher
The Ann Arbor Public Schools, working with families and the community, will educate and empower every student to succeed in a changing environment, as a responsible participant in a democratic society.
