University Elementary SchooL

1111 N. Russell Road

Bloomington, IN 47408
(812) 320-7753 ext 51487
March 9, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing on behalf of Mrs. Angela Mangum, a certified teacher with whom I have closely worked for the past
school year in her role as a Preventionist at our school. The role of Preventionist differs from school to school. Here, it is a
multi-tiered position in which the Preventionist is very active in planning and implementing instruction at a variety of
levels and with collaborating with other teachers throughout the day and week. On a daily basis, Mrs. Mangum teaches
intense Tier III instruction to 3 students based on a Reading Recovery model. She also does intense, individualized
instruction with a group of 5 6th grade students in both reading and writing skills with a focus on constructed response to
reading. She is trained to take running records and to plan and implement targeted lessons for students. As a result, the
students under her tutelage have doubled their previous growth and some are now on or approaching grade level. In
addition, Mrs. Mangum teaches 4 sections of small group, targeted instruction at 4 different grade levels focusing on an
essential skill. She examines the essential skill and the goal students are to reach when practicing that skill and creates
intensive, insightful, and well-orchestrated instructional activities for her students. She will occasionally teach entire
classes, allowing teachers some much need collaborative time during key times of the year. Mrs. Mangum, in conjunction
with the classroom teacher, provides direct instruction for Tier II second grade math. Finally, Mrs. Mangum is an integral
part of the Kindergarten PLC team. In this regard, she helps with planning and supports the other Preventionists and
myself in their quest to bring excellent lessons and strategies when teaching our students. This has made her an integral
part of our faculty. In all of these roles, Mrs. Mangum comes with my recommendations as a teacher and as a colleague.
As a colleague, Mrs. Mangum is both reliable and supportive. When asked to do something, she does it efficiently
and thoroughly. Teachers with whom she works know that they can count on her. Additionally, Mrs. Mangum is very
good at finding extra resources that will support the students she teachers and she shares those resources with her
colleagues through email, meetings, and collaborative times. Many of her contributions are now a permanent part of our
files for resources on seminal standards. She has integrated graphic organizers and other schema to help students plan.
She also integrates computer resources as supports for instruction and instructional practice, finding that good
combination of technological support and direct instruction. Her instructional approach is to Model a skill, provide
Guided Instruction with that skill, and then set independent practice of that skill while she conferences and supports
individual student work.
Mrs. Mangum is constantly trying to find that one next thing that will make a difference for students that will
keep them on their cutting edge and empower them to grow. If the task is too overwhelming, students shut down. If it is
too easy, they arent stretched. Mrs. Mangums constant quest is to find that perfect point in between. To do that, Mrs.
Mangum reviews and applies Intervention Plans, looks at assessments, both formal and informal, to monitor progress,
collaborates actively with other teachers who have that student, and empowers the student to take that next step. .
Students take that next step because it is manageable and they are certain it will help. This is the highpoint of effective
teaching.
Finally, Mrs. Mangum is a reflective teacher. She not only plans prior to teaching, she thinks about how students
are doing during the lesson and how to make a lesson more interesting and helpful after the lesson. She asks excellent
questions for clarification, for developing a deeper understanding, and in analyzing student work.
I close, sending this with my recommendations. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Linda Hitchings
Literacy Coach
University Elementary School
lhitchin@mccsc.edu
(812) 320-7753 ext. 51487