May 10, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the pleasure of being a mentor teacher to Joseph Arms in the spring of
2017. Mr. Arms has served as my student teacher, instructing high school sophomores in
World History and juniors in United States History. During this semester, it has become
clear to me that Mr. Arms far outstrips his peers in competency and professionalism; I
find him to be better than most first year teachers in handling the many demands of the
high school classroom. Additionally, he has an outstanding grasp of the content matter.
Mr. Arms is well suited to the shifting moods of the classroom. While student
teaching with me, Mr. Arms has had experience with the co-teaching environment. He
was able to work with my special education co-teacher to best meet the needs of all of the
students abilities in the classroom. Mr. Arms has had extensive on the job training that
shines through in his instruction in the classroom setting. He is able to make the
connections with the students that allow him to reach many students who may otherwise
blend into the background. He also is able to explain the content to the students in a way
that they may have previously not seen. This leads to a better understanding for the
students and better performance on state-mandated tests.
Many young graduates of this generation have a problem with constructive
criticism; however, Mr. Arms goes out of his way to ask for areas of improvement. Not
only did he ask me for things to work on, he invited administrators and other teachers
into the room to observe him and give him feedback on his instruction. He thrives on
improving the quality of his lessons as well as reflecting on what was great and what
needs a bit more polish.
Mr. Arms actively pursues a personal connection with his students. I have seen
him converse with the students and ask about their interests. When students are
distressed about something, he shows concern for their plight and helps them to redirect
their attention to their classroom duties. He has attended extracurricular activities and
will stay far beyond the contractual day to assist students who need extra help. He truly
goes the extra mile for his students.
I give my enthusiastic and most high recommendation of Mr. Joseph Arms. I
believe he will be an outstanding addition to the educational profession. Please do not
hesitate to contact me at laura.frommer@guhsdaz.org or at (623) 915-8760 x2912 if I can
be of further assistance and thank you for your consideration of this fine applicant.

Sincerely,

Laura Frommer