September 28, 2013 To Whom It May Concern: It is a pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Natalie Kevranian a natural

l and skilled young educator. I have been Natalies direct supervisor as Elementary School Principal, at Colegio Nueva Granada, in Bogota, Colombia, where Natalie has been a self-contained 4th grade classroom teacher, since August 2011. Over the years, it has been a pleasure to watch Natalie grow and work her magic in the classroom. Natalie has refined her understanding of backward design planning and formative and summative assessment while with us. She recognizes the importance of clear goals/learning targets and creating well aligned assessments and instructional activities that engage learners. She uses a variety of teaching strategies, methodology and technology to inspire learning. She works to differentiate, to meet the needs of a wide range of students, many of whom are ELL. As well, she now routinely utilizes performance assessments, conferring and rubrics, alongside more traditional tests and standards-referenced report cards, to assess and communicate growth and academic achievement. She appreciates the importance of providing students with lots of meaningful feedback and multiple opportunities to demonstrate and extend their learning. She has been trained by Staff Developers from Columbia University and has shown great interest and success in implementing the readers and writers workshop methodology. She has also shown initiative and proactivity as the Elementary Student Council Advisor last year and again this year. In addition, Natalie displays strong interpersonal skills. She develops excellent rapport with students. She also nurtures positive and supportive relationships with parents through open and responsive communication. Similarly, Natalie works collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues and administration alike. She is perceptive, encouraging, steady and calm, and this helps foster an inclusive and positive classroom learning community. Pacing is good, routines are well established, classroom is attractive and orderly, displays are creative and purposeful, supplies are well organized and students are happily engaged. Natalies classroom, in short, is a great place to be. In summary, Natalie Kevranian is a wonderful person and talented teacher. I foresee a very bright future ahead for her and wish her continued growth and success. She will be missed. Sincerely,

Julie Hunt Elementary Principal