The letter provides a strong recommendation for Lucy Wood, an outstanding young teacher seeking a new position. The director praises Lucy's keen intellect and engaging personality, and notes that she has worked hard each day to become a better teacher. Students are fully engaged in her classroom and have improved as writers under her guidance. Beyond teaching, Lucy has embraced additional roles like coaching soccer and sponsoring clubs. The director encourages giving Lucy every consideration and recommends her without reservation.

1. ST. STEPHEN'S & ST. AGNES SCHOOL
Living Our Mission
Reference for Lucy Wood
Dear School Administrator,
I am writing this letter of recommendation in support of an outstanding young teacher, Ms. Lucy Wood. Full
disclosure requires me to state that I provide this letter with great reluctance because it is my hope that Ms.
Wood will remain a member of the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School faculty for many years to come.
A short conversation with Lucy reveals that she is an individual possessing the powerful combination of a keen
intellect and an engaging personality. Lucy joined our faculty in the fall of 2007 after a journey that included
high academic success at challenging institutions and work in a pressure-filled private sector job. My
introduction of Lucy when she addressed the Upper School community at an Academic Convocation included
this story about her first visit to St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School:
A member of the faculty encouraged me to meet Ms. Wood and talk to her about a teaching position in
our Upper SchooL. I asked her to come and visit and that visit morphed into an intense, full day
interview. Without any warning Ms. Wood interviewed with the Head of School, members of the
English department and other administrators. I asked if she would be willing to teach a lesson to a class.
The lesson, discuss the William Carlos Williams poem about plums and the icebox.
Ms. Wood must have learned something watching Duke basketball players make crucial game winning
shots under pressure, because she went into that classroom and did not miss a beat. Knowledge, poise
and passion for teaching all were on display.
Since joining our faculty Lucy has worked hard each day to become a better teacher. Her students sense her
passion and respect her intelligence. I have observed her classes often and I have always found a classroom
where students are fully engaged in the process of learning. She has continued her journey as a life-long learner
pursuing in the summer a master's degree concentrating on the study of the "great books." Under Ms. Wood's
guidance students have become better writers and stronger communicators. She manages a classroom with the
confidence and skill of a teacher with many more actual years in front of students.
Lucy is the ultimate team player as exemplified by her contributions to our community outside the classroom.
As a coach on the soccer pitch, sponsor of our multi-cultural club, advisor to the "It's Academic Team" and
chaperone on service trips, Lucy has fully embraced the role as teacher and mentor for our students.
I encourage you to give Lucy every consideration to join your faculty. She is a good teacher on the path of
becoming a great teacher. I recommend her with no reservations.
Please contact me with any questions regarding Lucy.
Sincerely,
~J ~~.---;
Bud Garikes
Director of Upper School
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Grades JK-5: 400 Fontaine Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22302
Grades 6-8: 4401 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Grades 9-12: 1000 St. Stephen's Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304
(703) 751-2700
www.sssas.org