Department of Teaching, Learning 1430 E.

Second Street
& Sociocultural Studies Tucson, AZ 85721-0069
College of Education 520-621-2928
520-621-1853

January 8, 2019

Re: Letter of Recommendation for Haley Lesar

Dear Selection Committee:

I enthusiastically write this letter of support for Ms. Haley Lesar who is a former student
of mine enrolled in my Structured English Immersion (SEI) course at the University of Arizona,
in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies’ teacher preparation
program. Throughout the entire 2018 fall semester, Haley demonstrated outstanding intellect
and high-level engagement, as she consistently conveyed to her fellow classmates a press for
inclusivity across all learning and teaching platforms. It is important to note how Haley always
exceeded the expectations set forth for all of the course’s signature assignments. Additionally, I
share with you that at every turn, Haley rendered tremendously thoughtful contributions in our
interactive language acquisition class discussions which in turn, always garnered her fellow
classmates’ listening attention. In the next few paragraphs, I would like to discuss just a few of
Haley’s professional qualities that I think bode exceptionally well for her success as a teacher
worthy of your support.

Over the past seven months, I have come to know Haley in more pronounced ways.
Moreover, I have witnessed Haley demonstrate her leadership, teaching, and communicative
abilities which, from my perspective, are deemed exceptionally superior—as she is a skilled
“people person” with a generous spirit. Her ability to create and to share integrative learning
spaces with K-12 English learners as they are advancing their literacy and language skills is
highly commendable.

I contend that Haley is at the vanguard of communicating with students, parents, and
fellow professionals about educational attainment topics and issues, language advancement, and
children’s overall well-being as evidenced for example, by the ways in which she engages
students in small math review groupings within her current fourth grade classroom applications
placement. She pulls into the math review learning spaces different types of manipulatives,
realia, diagrams, and many other pertinent applicable resources so as to create a strongly knitted
supportive learning structure for her learners. Moreover, she is a reflective practitioner as she
continuously makes the necessary instructional adjustments in order for her students to
internalize their knowledge while building additional, advanced, and linked knowledge domains.

Drawing from the excellent work that Haley presented in the Structured English Immersion
course, Haley distinctively exhibited high-quality Structured English Immersion lesson plans,
reflective analyses of her executed SEI lessons, and as previously noted, a willingness to make

Arizona’s First University – Since 1885

instructional adjustments accordingly. The totality of these hardy facets essentially distinguishes
Haley from many others, thus showcasing Haley as a strong, adaptive teacher-for-hire candidate.

Furthermore, Haley has clearly shown that she is an excellent collaborative team member
as she demonstratively seized learning opportunities during our shared Structured English
Immersion class’s meetings by generating group work activities in addition to exhibiting a high
level of intellectual ability. Moreover, she possesses an extraordinary set of well-honed “soft
skills”—those highly valued workplace qualities such as a strong work ethic, powerful time
management abilities, a positive attitude, and a keen sense of partnership intertwined with a
special purpose in mind, just to name a few; as I elevate these qualities as being critically
essential components in any classroom learning environment (across and within various
educational ecological constructs).

Finally, Haley is well on her path of becoming an intensely knowledgeable and well-
trained educator, as she is always securing avenues for deeper engagement and critical thinking
in her coursework and in her many field experiences. These multiplex platforms of engagement
serve for deepening her understanding of multilingual and multicultural communities---children,
families, peers, and socio-emotional ecosystems. And, on a personal note, I have found Haley to
be a really nice person to be around, to converse with, and to engage in discussions surrounding
pertinent educational issues. I give my whole-hearted recommendation for Haley to be hired in
your prestigious district as a teacher/leader. From my perspective, Haley ranks (1-5) at the
highest levels of distinction, as she scores all fives.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me at your convenience at (323) 481-9181 (cell)
or email me at camyaden@email.arizona.edu

Sincerely,

Camille Martinez-Yaden
Instructor and Researcher -- Language, Reading, and Culture

Arizona’s First University – Since 1885