1. April 19, 2015
Re: Letterof Reference forMs.Lisa Mais
To Whom It May Concern:
Thousandsof people inthe world choose teachingastheirprofession inhopesthattheywillshape the
livesof children. I’mgrateful forthose peopleasmy childrenare the directreflectionof those teachers.
Ms. Lisa Mais impactedmychildren andshapedtheirlife,aswell asmine. Because of the extraordinary
efforts,love andhumility thatMs.Mais shareswithherstudents,Iam compelledtoshare storiesof how
Ms. Mais has changedthe livesof mychildrenandmyfamily,sothat youcan shape your school and
change the livesof yourstudents.
Ms. Mais greetedstudents,staff,andparents atthe school doorswelcoming themeachday,andkick-
startingtheirdaywitha smile, joke, laugh,and love. Evenaftermanyyearsof enteringschool,my
daughterMakennastill looksfor Ms. Mais to greetherand puta smile onherface inthe mornings.On
the surface,this easilycouldbe seenasnormal,orjusther job,butI experienced thisunique welcoming
first-handasI walkedintothe school asa parent.I watchedthe children runtoenterMs. Mais’ door so
that theycould continue totheirclassroomknowingtheirdaywasgoingto be great because of the
welcome theyreceivedfromher. Ievenfoundmyself happytobe greetedbyherthose mornings Ihad
to go intothe school.Her effectisnothingshortof day-changing,anextraordinaryimpactthatmustbe
felttounderstand itstrue influence.
My daughter, Makenna,isone of those kidswhoisfilledwithtremendoushappiness,butwhose talents
couldfall shortof heroldersistercausingherto struggle withself-doubt,especially withgradesin
readingandwriting.These kidscansometimesbe excludedbysome teachersinfavorof those whofind
it easiertosucceed – and thiswasexactlymyfearuntil Ms. Mais heardthat Makennawas struggling
and voluntarilyofferedtotutorherafterschool each week - forfree! Ms. Mais evaluatedhow she could
helpherwithherreading. Weekafterweek, Ms.MaiswalkedMakennathroughreadingskillsuntil she
masteredeachskill. Makenna’sreadingbeganto improve andIwasimpressed. Butwhatastounded
me was the interestMakennanowhadin school,specifically reading.Makennamade the honorroll and
has continuedtolove readingthanksto Ms. Mais’interestinMakenna,compassionanddedication. I
couldnot be more grateful forwhat Ms. Mais didfor Makennaand myfamilyfouryearsago,withno
fanfare andverylittle reward.
Thisyear we receivedascare whenwe learned thatMakenna’s teacherwasleaving6th
grade before
Christmas.We were afraid Makennacouldgetlostin the shuffle of anew teacher. But, insteadthe new
teacherwas Ms. Mais and thisamazingladyshapedourfamily,again. We watchedMakennacome
home excitedaboutclassday-inandday-out.Butone dayshe came home evenmore excitedthan
normal.Ms. Mais encouragedall the students toblogandMakenna startedwriting openly forthe first
time. Althoughitwasn’t agreat masterpiece,she couldn’tgetenoughof it. Makennawouldtell me
how Ms. Mais wouldtell herthatshe wasan amazingwriter. She feltsuccessful,accomplished,
creative, and,mostof all,excitedtoprogressandleadthe classin somethingthatshe feltshe wasthe
bestin. I’m still amazedandgrateful forwhat Ms. Mais gave Makenna. It wasby far muchmore than

2. an education – itwas confidence,love,andbelief inherself. Itwasa giftthat I watchedunfoldover
yearsand one that I treasure as a father. Ihave watchedit change the worldfor mydaughter – and
knowit will change the worldforothers,aswell,because of her.
But a teacherwiththistype of talentcouldbe filledof herself,butthatisn’t Ms.Mais. Ms. Mais is also
incrediblyhumble anduseshumilitytoteachherstudentstobe betterpeople.Myoldestdaughter,
Sydney,waspetrifiedtostartmiddle school. She wasnervousaboutmakingmistakesand notbeing
perfect.Inthe firstweekof class,Sydneywalkedthrough Ms.Mais’door. As Ms. Mais jokedand
welcomedSydneyshe made acommentthat caught Sydneyoff-guardandhurtherover-sensitive
feelings. WhenSydneytoldme aboutitthatevening,I wenttotalkwith Ms. Mais aboutit the next
morning.IexplainedthatSydneywasover-sensitive andscaredof 6th
grade andher joke caughther the
wrongway. I wasn’tsure howshe’drespond,butherreactionchangedmylife.
Ms. Mais beganto tear up. She apologizedtome and told me she rememberedexactlywhatitwaslike
to start 6th
grade and understoodhowhercommentcouldbe misinterpreted.She thensoughtSydney
out inschool, askedforherforgiveness andclarifiedwhatshe meant.She owneduptoit andshowed
Sydneythatevenasan adult,youcan humble yourself toaska childforforgiveness.Indoingthis, Ms.
Mais made a friendforlife of Sydney,andtaughtme a lessonthatI have usedmultipletimessince.Iam
incredibly grateful forthatone morning.NeverdidIexpectformyworldtobe shapedbymydaughter’s
teacher,butLisa Mais isjustthat special anddidexactlythat.
Overthe last 6 years, Ms. Mais hasshapedthe livesof hundredsof students,faculty,andparentsat
TradersPointChristianAcademy.The hole thatwill be leftinourschool will be enormous.But knowing
that otherstudents’liveswillbe changedbecause of the extraordinaryefforts,loveandhumilityof Ms.
Lisa Mais,I knowthat the worldwill be a betterplace.And, Ilookforwardto how my familyandIwill
share the giftswe receivedbyMs. Mais tomake a difference inothers’lives. Pleasetake this
opportunityto change the world byconsideringherforthisposition.
Sincerely,
Mark Kowal
(317) 847-6548
mrkowal@sbcglobal.net