Dr. Jerry A. Caster932 29th StreetWest Des Moines, IA 50265515-225-2016cjeanjerry@aol.com

March 27, 2015

To Whom It May Concern:Re: Molly McClelland

I am Mollys student teaching supervisor and it is a pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for her. Prior to working with student teachers, I was a special education supervisor and then principal of two schools serving disabled students in the Des Moines Schools.

Molly is completing her student teaching at Valley Southwoods and is working with Jill George. She is demonstrating all of the skills that one would expect of a competent teacher. She plans well, is organized, has a good sense of instructional design and relates well to her students. I really like her interaction style with the students. There is always a clear instructional focus, and the interaction is always engaging and supportive of students. She effectively communicates expectations and students respect her authority.

Molly is having a very successful experience at Valley Southwoods. She is so competent that both Jill and I agreed at the mid-term that Molly was really ready to have her own classroom. This is only reasonable because Molly has done subbing in the West Des Moines Schools and has spend a lot of time in the high school special education program. When she starts her career she will be far beyond any beginning teacher Ive seen in terms of professional maturity.

One of the things Molly brought to Southwoods is an understanding of transition issues that students face when they move on to the high school. She has taken it on herself to create a program that she can use to help her current students begin to prepare for the transition. What makes it significant to me is that she identified the need and addressed it very quickly. Her level of independence and self-direction is at a higher level than Im accustomed to seeing in beginning teachers. Im really impressed by what she has done.

Molly is a very bright and talented person who is hooked on working with students with special needs. She has a commitment to help students become independent and to learn to self-advocate that Ive always seen in my very best teachers. Those things, plus her ability to work with students, parents and other staff will make her very successful. Shell be an asset to any special education program and the entire school. I recommend her with no reservations whatsoever.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.Sincerely,Jerry A. CasterJerry A. Caster, Supervisor of Student TeachingDrake University