1. October 3, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Nichole Swager for a position related to teaching and education.
I first met Mrs. Swager in July 2014 when I was interviewing teaching candidates for a charter school elementary program called Julian
Charter School, Innovation Centre-La Mesa. My first impressions were Mrs. Swager was engaging, thoughtful, smart, and creative. She
was a new but well-rounded teaching candidate with strong potential and she was hired as the 3rd grade teacher.
Nikki Swager taught 3rd grade at Julian Charter School, Innovation Centre-La Mesa during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 school
years. During this time, Mrs. Swager developed and demonstrated a keen ability to teach to the whole child. Her clear and explicit
teaching practices combined with strong classroom community facilitation techniques allowed Mrs. Swager to be an effective leader
and have great influence on her students’ academic, emotional, and behavioral growth. She always accepted administrative feedback
with a positive outlook and grew from collaboration with more experienced teachers.
As an academic guide, Nikki Swager created and facilitated innovative and successful educational curriculum in all content areas
utilizing the common core and California state standards. Using the Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop model, developed by Lucy
Calkins, Mrs. Swager set a strong foundation for students to become competent and impassioned life-long readers and writers. In
mathematics, Mrs. Swager employed manipulatives and differentiated learning centers, allowing students to demonstrate a conceptual
understanding of number sense and problem-solving skills. For Science and Social Students, Mrs. Swager planned highly engaging,
collaborative and interest-based projects for her students to accomplish learning goals in an authentic way. Her teaching lessons were
always purposeful and differentiated to student need. Additionally, Mrs. Swager integrated the performing and visual arts seamlessly
into her classroom, an expectation of the JCS Innovation Centre-La Mesa.
JCS Innovation Centre-La Mesa is an independent study charter school program in which a parent-teacher takes responsibility for 26%
of the student’s learning, on home school days. Therefore, it was necessary for Mrs. Swager to clearly communicate with parents about
academic achievement and individual need. Mrs. Swager demonstrated professionalism through this communication, working closely
with parent-teacher partners and formed strong, trust-based relationships with the Academy community.
Nikki Swager has demonstrated the unique skillset to be desired in a classroom teacher. She is polite, professional, approachable,
dedicated, articulate, smart, innovative, reflective and flexible. With great pleasure, I strongly recommend Nichole Swager for any
position which would allow her to work with students and colleagues in education and learning. If there are any questions regarding
her reference, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Hillary Gaddis
JCS Innovation Centre-La Mesa, Academy Coordinator (2012 - 2015)
JCS San Diego Academy of Performing Arts, Academy Coordinator (2015 - present)
hbertran-harris@juliancharterschool.org
619.269.9478