1. March 10, 2015
Lori Temple, NH Teacher of the Year Coordinator
NH Department of Education
101 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301
Dear Ms. Temple:
It is with pleasurethat I have the honor to writein support of Jennifer Thompson as New Hampshire Teacher of
the Year.
Jennifer graduated from the Upper Valley Educators Institute(then, theUpper Valley Teacher Institute)in 2009
and has, in theinterveningyears,been an exemplar of what UVEI holds to be a core value: children need and
deserve great teachers and great schools. At the Unity Elementary School, Jennifer has embodied that principle,
havinginitiated new ways of inspiringstudents tolearn. Some of the highlights of her career include:
 Independent and collaborativeinquiry-based learningfor students in Grades 6-8 which moved the
students away from traditional textbookand worksheet learning. Students now learn history by
contextualizing,questioning and analyzingprimary sourcedocuments and artifacts,as historians do.
 A rigorous research-based independent Capstone Project for all 8th Grade students,required to earn the
opportunity to attend the class trip and to graduate.
 A community servicelearningprogram that directly ties the students’experiences into classroom
learning.
 Participation in a National Science Foundation grant-funded program that will introducestudents to
geospatial technologies in an interdisciplinary setting.

As a professional in the education community,Jennifer is equally inspiringand transformative. She has been
an advocateand spokesperson for quality teacher preparation and is a repeat guest on NHPR’s program, “The
Exchange.” She was UVEI’s Commencement speaker in 2013, serves as a member of UVEI’s Advisory Council,
and, through UVEI, has mentored the next generation of teachers.
I would alsolike to add a word or twoabout Jennifer’s exceptional character. As an intern,she was a valued
colleague and demonstrated rich leadership skills. Her ability tonavigatethedelicate balancebetween leading
and collaboratingis a model for teacher leaders in schools.
Thank you for theopportunity tolet you know about Jennifer Thompson. Writingthis has been a pleasure.
Sincerely,
R Page Tompkins, EdD
Executive Director