Gonzalo Garza Independence High

School

July 25, 2016

Dear Sir or Madam:

I write this letter on enthusiastically on behalf of Samantha Radloff-Pierce. Samantha was a

student of mine from the fall of 2015 through the spring of 2017 at Gonzalo Garza Independence
High School, in English Language Arts I, III, and IV. Over the past two years, Ive had the
opportunity to work closely with this young woman, and observe her as she engaged in research,
analysis, argument and persuasion, and both academic and creative writing skills. It is through
these experiences that I came to know and respect her varied interests, emotional maturity, and
academic abilities. She is an intelligent and perceptive student, capable of great success.
Samantha meets challenges with a sense of humor and an open-mind, qualities that are keys to
her success.

This young woman may seem quiet and soft-spoken on first impressions, but throughout the
courses, she revealed excellent communication skills. Both her writing and her spoken
communication are thoughtful and articulate. She excels when the project calls for integrating
multiple topics and skills, as well as considering multiple perspectives. She shines when she has
the opportunity to lend her own insight, creativity and humor to a project. In these cases her
work was both of high quality and relevant beyond the classroom.

In the time she spent in my classroom, Samantha completed several assignments that stand out.
Indeed, she is both an expressive writer and an analytical thinker. A few assignments that come
to mind include a project from English I, for which she read Agatha Christies And Then There
Were None. Samantha wrote a script for a fictional trial and closing argument for the
characters, as well as a Swan Song (a poem) from the perspective of one of the characters. This
was the first big project she did in my class, and it was the first time I was able to appreciate her
learning process, creativity, and sharp wit.

In English IV, Samanthas short This I Believe essay about the impact of her grandmother on
her life was particularly inspiring, and her Vignettes project was another fine piece of creative
writing. Finally, in her final weeks in my course, she completed an advertisement analysis
project and a multi-genre research project exploring how prevalent depression is in adolescence
in the United States. Her work here, incorporating research, analysis, and class discussion. This
student absolutely shines when shes given the opportunity to share her learning with her peers.

In addition to being a delightful academic, Samantha is a likeable person as well. She is

personable and open, and seems to easily find the balance between lets have fun and lets get
 Gonzalo Garza Independence High

School

this work done. The ability to stay driven even when she doesnt want to is admirable, and I
only wish that more of her peers possessed this gift. In group settings, she is a clear
communicator, friendly and gracious, yet unafraid to state her opinion or ask questions for
clarification. She is an ideal team member who motivates her peers.

Finally, Samanthas maturity is evident in her ability to manage her school work and
responsibilities beyond the classroom. She not only held a part-time job while attending Garza,
she was a member of the Principals Advisory Counsel, in which the participants act as student
representatives for their advisories and communicate directly with the principal. In addition, she
also attended a dual-credit ACC course at Huston-Tillotson College during the spring semester.
This course took her out of class twice a week for the majority of the spring semester. Samantha
was responsible for attending the off-campus classes, the school work, her own transportation, as
well as all of her classwork at Garza. Her poise throughout a stressful semester was admirable.

In closing, Samantha respects the process of learning and enjoys exploring ideas and knowledge
over and above what is required. She will be a great addition to any class and I feel certain that
she will be successful at any University she attends, as well as any pursuit she chooses in her
adult life. It is with delight that I recommend her for any academic or employment opportunities.

Sincerely yours,

Julia Champine
English Language Arts Facilitator
(512) 414-8671