1. May 30. 2013
To Whom It May Concern:
As a Program Coordinator at Breakthrough Saint Paul (BSP), I have known Nathan Rayle since June 2011. Nathan
successfully navigated a highly competitive application process, will complete three summers (2011 - 2013) as an Aspiring
Teacher, and has volunteered as a Breakthrough Coach during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school year. His performance
throughout this time was outstanding, and I strongly recommend him for any teaching opportunities available at your
institution.
At Breakthrough Saint Paul, we look for talented and passionate college and high school students to teach our students,
who are academically motivated, under-resourced, and from public middle schools in Saint Paul. “The Princeton Review”
has rated the teaching internship Breakthrough offers in the top ten of college internships nationwide. The fact that
Nathan successfully competed in our highly selective application process (250+ candidates typically apply for 26 positions
each year) is a testament to his ability. In addition, the level of commitment we expect from our teachers surpasses what
many expect from a summer teaching internship. The hours were long and the work was arduous. Teachers spent at least
ten hours per day on campus teaching, supervising activities, being observed in the classroom, serving on committees, and
taking part in faculty meetings. They then returned home to prepare lessons, activities and events for the next day.
During his three summers with us, Nathan will have taught social studies (2011 & 2013) and co-led our Breakthrough
Leaders Program (2012). All of these roles required Nathan to take initiative, envision a plan and bring it to fruition. He
does an exceptional job in all regards. Our faculty and staff can always rely on Nathan to follow through on his
commitments, step up to help others, and produce exceptional outcomes with his students. He also works well with the
larger faculty and takes on the most difficult leadership roles available to our interns, like he did as a Celebration Co-Chair
in 2012. This role required him to produce very detailed work, collaborate with committee members, coordinate other
faculty members and ensure that they all met tight deadlines. Nathan is amazingly reliable, mature, dedicated, and well
liked by students and peers.
While working with Breakthrough, Nathan has always dedicated himself to his teaching, prioritizing student learning
above all else. For his Social Studies class in 2011, titled “Champions of Human Rights,” he planned hands-on lessons
that introduced middle school students to real-life human rights activists, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony,
and Tou Ger Xiong. While co-leading the 9th grade Breakthrough Leaders Program in 2012, Nathan helped create and
implement a leadership curriculum based on the “Heroic Imagination Project”, organized a weeklong trip to the
Boundary Waters, and supported students with difficult event planning. Nathan exceeded expectations during all of his
summers with BSP and was always excited to take on new challenges with a positive attitude.
During the past two school years, Nathan also volunteered to be a Breakthrough Coach (mentor) to two of our 7th grade
students. Nathan independently met with his mentees for two hours each week to check in about school, help with
homework, and plan bonding activities (like geocaching). In addition, Nathan regularly communicated with Breakthrough
staff and provided helpful feedback about his mentee’s progress. Nathan goes above and beyond to support students.
Over the years, I have come to know Nathan well. His commitment to our students and greater community is a true
example of how dedicated he is to educational equity and student success. Not only is he very hard working and very
excited about his future as a teacher, but he is one of the nicest, most helpful people you will ever meet. Please feel free to
contact me; I am happy to answer any additional questions that you may have about Nathan.
Sincerely,
Ashley Cooper
Program Coordinator
Breakthrough Saint Paul
651-748-5504
acooper@breakthroughsaintpaul.org