December 14, 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

It is an honor to write this letter of support for Amy Mirlisena as a new classroom teacher in
your school. I have known Amy Mirlisena for one year. We first met when she was a student
in one of my classes at Miami University: Early Childhood Synthesis: Embracing the
Complexities. In this course, I required critical consideration of the importance of building
relationships in the classroom and understanding curriculum in ways that allow children and
teachers to collaborate in engaging in the content in divergent and expressive ways. Amy was
required to explore these themes not only in the context of her understanding of children, but
also in context of her own personal learning philosophy and style. Amy demonstrated a rare
ability to reflect on her personal qualities and unique experiences and use the ensuing
insights to make effective and innovative teaching and learning decisions. Amys strengths in
this regard lie not only in her intellectual capabilities, but, even more so, in her very human
and real perspective on children and learning. She looks beyond the book and into the
heart of teaching and learning.

These qualities of deep intellectual capability and of reflective perspective-taking played a

very important role in Amys relationship with her colleagues other pre-service teachers,
the host teachers at her field site, and with me, her professor and collaborator. She completed
many of her field commitments, including student teaching, in a local urban school with
which I am deeply associated. Her work in this unique urban school represented efforts above
and beyond what is typically required of an intern. She engaged in team meetings, developed
grants and curriculum related to a long-desired (by the school) garden project, engaged in a
variety of school-day and evening events with parents and community, and assisted me in
further developing my partnership with the school. She has provided to me informed and
valued suggestions on how to better support incoming field students and ways to interact
with host teachers and particular children, and she has offered insights into the day-to-day
complexities of the space. I join others in her school setting in crediting her profound success
at this site to her maturity, commitment, responsibility, and especially her easy rapport with
children and adults.

Amy is a leader. After her first semester in her urban elementary school setting, she
volunteered to return to the university during her student teaching semester to speak to early
childhood education students who would soon be entering their own urban school sites. Her
impact was incredibly inspiring to these pre-service teachers, just one semester behind her.
As I write this letter, I am in the midst of meeting with each of my current students to
discuss their work in my course. As the student articulate what was most meaningful in the
course, many bring up Amys talk and how her words, presentation and general enthusiasm
for teaching influenced their own entry into the field and guided them to value what they may
have not even seen without Amys words shining a light on the fullness of life in an urban
school setting.

All of these admirable qualities and accomplishments certainly contribute to Amys

qualifications as a classroom teacher. However, it is her generosity and commitment to
children that has left me with the strongest impression of her and her disposition to be a
caring and effective teacher. During her time in field classrooms, Amy never missed a day,
knew the children as unique and worthwhile individuals, and sought out any means she could
to provide the best opportunities for the children to engage in rich and diverse learning
opportunities. In class discussions, presentations, and field-based gatherings, she offered
insights gleaned from her field experiences that benefited the entire class, but more
importantly, she listened to learn what she could in order to better serve her students. In our
association in class and since, Amy has never failed to demonstrate qualities of respect,
persistence, inquisitiveness, humor, and especially, a thoughtful and reflective intellect.

In conclusion, I offer my highest recommendation of Amy Mirlisena as a deserving candidate

for a teaching position. She is genuinely committed to the well-being of children and will, I
am quite certain, continue to work tirelessly to apply her gifts in their interest. Please contact
me personally for any additional information.

Sincerely,
Sheri Leafgren
Sheri Leafgren, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
leafgrs@muohio.edu
513-529-0254