Robert Girgis

1215 Olde Towne Dr

Irving, TX 75061
214-864-5641
Girgis.robert@gmail.com

June 17, 2010

Irving ISD

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you in regards to Irving ISD science teacher openings. I am a

recent graduate of Stanford University, B.A. Human Biology and a current Texas
Teaching Fellow. I found out about the opening from Texas Teaching Fellows
staff and through the districts recent vacancy posting. I believe that my past and
concurrent experiences, including seven years of being an Irving ISD student
myself, will be an optimal match for the district ideology and philosophy as
mentioned on your website. With regards to your endeavor to offer students the
best resources available to achieve a quality education and increase academic
success, I strongly believe in the importance of every member of the teaching
community such as administrators, trustees, teachers, parents, and the
community collaborating as a cohesive whole.
During my college career, I was employed as a team-lead with Foundations for
Education (F4ED), a student-run company offering after-school math programs
with a Singaporean curriculum proven to yield higher results than many in
America. I found several concepts from my cognitive development and
developmental psychology courses directly implemented within this curriculum,
ones specifically tailored to tap into common underlying mechanisms of learning.
In addition to my instructor role, I concurrently served as a supervisor for a team
of instructors and organized logistics for 20-30 students while with F4ED. In
addition, I volunteered with H.E.L.P. for Kids, a student-run group offering middle
school students at a local underserved elementary school a yearlong course in
health education. The course informed young students about life-changing
scenarios they would soon encounter in an effort to increase knowledge required
for better decision-making. I was also involved with a Stanford Free Clinic
offering health education to uninsured immigrant adults. Teaching in many
different contexts has allowed me to identify fundamental and underlying themes
in education. I will continue to grow as an educator and a professional with the
support of Texas Teaching Fellows, a group of highly motivated professionals
with a common dedication to narrowing the educational achievement gap.
At Stanford, I was provided with the engagement necessary to cultivate a rich
consciousness of educational and health disparities. Although I do not deny the
power of structure and environment in determining achievement for certain
demographic groups, I am unwilling to accept any viewpoints that downplay the
agency of the individual students in shaping their own futures and I will work
 Robert Girgis
1215 Olde Towne Dr
Irving, TX 75061
214-864-5641
Girgis.robert@gmail.com

towards any end to reach every student in my classroom. During my

undergraduate career, my chosen and designed area of concentration for the
Human Biology program was cognitive and psychosocial development in
children with an emphasis on mechanisms of learning and information retention.
Therefore, I have formed my educational career, extracurricular activities, and
work experiences around education and am excited to bring them to your school.
I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss how my experiences can
match your needs. I can be reached at 214-864-5641 or email:
girgis.robert@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Robert Girgis