Stephen Costello writes a letter of recommendation for Tess McNamara. He has known Tess for 10 years as her high school English teacher and now colleague. Tess excelled as a student, showing passion and strong skills in English. As a substitute teacher, Tess goes above expectations by fully preparing engaging lessons, such as acting out scenes from a play when left a poor lesson plan. Costello believes Tess will be a superb teacher due to her intelligence, motivation, passion and commitment to imparting her love of English to students. He highly recommends Tess for any teaching position.

1. Stephen Costello
English Department
Narragansett High School
245 South Pier Road
Narragansett, R.I. 02882
28 January 2016
To Whom It May Concern,
It is my absolute pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Tess
McNamara. I have known Tess in a variety of capacities over the past ten years,
both as a student of mine and now as a colleague. I have always known Tess as an
intelligent, motivated and capable young woman. As a student, she exemplified
everything a teacher wants in a pupil. As a beginning teacher, she manifests those
professional and interpersonal behaviors which are indicators of a successful
educator.
Narragansett High School is a small public high school; the smallest public
school in the smallest state in America. As such, a teacher really gets to know their
students in a familiar way, so I was not surprised when Tess told me in 10th
grade
that she wanted to be an English teacher. When I taught Tess, her classroom
contributions were notable for the passion she exhibited in her study of English.
Tess is an outstanding critical reader and analytical writer. Many students are. Tess’
passion for all things language and literature were evident from the time she was a
high school sophomore. Most students’ future plans are unformed, but Tess was
always on a track to be an educator, so when she came back to Narragansett this
school year to substitute, it was a joy to see her future plans fulfilled in the present.
As impressed as I was with Tess as a student, I was more impressed with her
as a substitute in our department for the past semester. The intelligence,
motivation and passion which made her an outstanding student makes her an
outstanding beginning teacher. Tess does not just go through the motions of being
a substitute teacher, she is fully invested in. For example, Tess was subbing this
past December for a woman in the English department who was nine months
pregnant. Tess had subbed for this teacher on a few occasions, so she was familiar
and comfortable with the students, the schedule and the situation. However, on this
occasion, the teacher called out unexpectedly and left a hurried lesson plan that
involved sustained, silent reading of August Wilson’s play Fences. As good teachers
instinctively know, that lesson plan was destined to fail, so Tess spent the entire
evening before class reading, researching and planning a lesson on Wilson’s
Pittsburgh cycles of plays. She also prepared background knowledge that students
needed to have before reading the play, and a dynamic lesson where the students,
in character, acted out scenes from the beginning of the drama. This is a small
example of her ability and aptitude, but a telling one. Tess will work hard to be a
successful teacher, she will use her imagination to create meaningful lessons for
students, and she will use her passion to take her love for the written word and
impart that passion to her pupils. She will make a superb English teacher one day. I

2. am proud to have been her high school teacher, I am proud that she has chosen to
sub at Narragansett High School, and I am proud that she wants to continue to
learn the art of teaching. The teaching profession needs young teachers like Tess
McNamara. Teachers that have desire, passion and energy. Tess will be an asset to
your fine program, and I recommend her highly and without hesitation.
Sincerely,
Stephen Costello