Marissa Schroeder

1995 S Pacific Ave

Sioux Falls, SD 57110
605-555-6458 (c)
mlschro1@asu.edu

October 14th, 2017

Jarod Larson, Superintendent

Brandon Valley School District #49-2
300 S. Splitrock Blvd.
Brandon, SD 57005

Dear Mr. Larson,

I am interested in applying for the fifth-grade special education teaching position in your school
district. As a soon-to-be 2020 graduate of Arizona State University, I have experience teaching
in third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade level, in an urban school district. I also have experience
teaching at the first- and second-grade level in a suburban school district. I believe that my
experience and passion for student engagement, parent engagement, and student success
make me the ideal candidate for this position at Fred Assam Elementary School.

I have experience teaching elementary school students in a variety of settings. Most recently, I
was teaching third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders, focusing on intensive math and ELA skills, as well
as providing a space for an after-school program that focused on homework help, tutoring, as
well as teaching additional life skills and languages. This was done in an inner-city public school
in New York City as part of work with a non-profit organization. I also have experience teaching
first- and second-graders in a suburban private school as an after-school teaching assistant. I
believe that these experiences will make me an asset to this school.

The schools that I have worked in encouraged teachers to create lesson plans that would
engage students in their school community, as well as the community that they live in. I have
lots of experience incorporating service-based projects into my lesson plans, and an example
would be when my fifth-grade classroom organized and held a multicultural dinner for the
school. Kindergarteners through fifth-graders were invited, and were encouraged to bring their
families and a food dish from their culture. The idea that my students had was that the students
would get to meet more students that they didnt talk to on a daily basis, and the teachers and
parents would also get a chance to know each other. I would love to find ways to continue to
create and integrate service-based projects into the lesson plans.

Through my experience I have learned the value of patience, and just how important it is in the
special education classroom. I have also learned that students work and learn best when
positively encouraged, and when they receive praise for their work. To ensure that my students
are receiving all of the support that they may need, I set up a constant and clear line of
communication between myself, their parents, and any other teachers that may be necessary
for the successful learning environment. By doing so, parents will know that I will reach out to
them if any issues arise, or if a certain method works exceptionally well.

Special Education has long been my passion, and through this job, I hope to continue to grow
and thrive as a teacher. Through my dedication and hard work, I will strive to return each day
better than the day before, and continue to advocate for my students in times of need. Thank
you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

Marissa Schroeder