Dear Committee Members:

I am delighted to write a letter in support of Ethan Selfs candidacy for a

science teaching position at your school. Over the past year, I have served as
Ethans professor and advisor in the Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary
Education Program at the University of Vermont.
Ethan brings an impressive academic background as well as relevant
teaching experiences to the science classroom. He completed a Bachelor of
Science in Conservation Biology at St. Lawrence University, graduating
Magna Cum Laude in his class. In the process of completing his degree,
Ethan gained valuable skills working as a field researcher at the Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management, St. Lawrence University and the University of
Utah. These kinds of research skills are particularly important in
transforming science classrooms into authentic places of scientific inquiry as
recommended by the Next Generation Science Standards. In addition, Ethan
gained valuable teaching experience working in a variety of different
capacities as a long-term substitute teacher and track coach at Mount
Mansfield Union High School and academic tutor at St. Lawrence
University. Over the past year, his full-year teaching internship at Mt.
Abraham High School has provided Ethan with many unique classroom
experiences supporting his developing science teaching practice.
I have had the opportunity to observe Ethans teaching as part of MAT
Program coursework requirements. From these experiences it is evident that
Ethan has developed a teaching practice that is student-centered and engages
students in high levels of thinking and inquiry about questions and topics
that are relevant to adolescents lives. In the field, Ethan enthusiastically
collaborates with his mentor teacher in developing inquiry-based lessons and
projects that engage students in deep understanding of scientific concepts
and practices. Ethan demonstrates high levels of competence in planning,
teaching and assessing student understanding for lessons and units that are
aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State
Standards. He works well with his colleagues, attends teacher in-service,
parent-teacher conferences and extracurricular activities, and is highly
respected and admired by students in his classes.
Given the experience that Ethan has garnered throughout his career thus far,
it should come as no surprise that he has emerged as a true leader and
advocate for all the students and teachers that he regularly works with. Ethan

is always willing to lend support when necessary, often extending his time
and expertise beyond the expectations of a teaching intern. He is an active
listener and ready to challenge students to strive for higher levels of
understanding, as well as address their individual needs either directly or
through appropriate support systems at the high school. His sense of
enthusiasm and curiosity are contagious and appreciated by all those that
know him.
I am pleased to strongly support Ethan Selfs candidacy for a science
teaching position at your school. If I can be of further assistance, please
contact me at Regina.Toolin@uvm.edu.
Sincerely,
Regina Toolin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
MAT Program Coordinator