Clinton Vicks is a first year graduate student in Mercy College's Teaching Fellows program. His supervisor observed him 8 times throughout the academic year and found him to be an outstanding teacher. He has developed very effective classroom management skills and high expectations for his special needs students. Additionally, Mr. Vicks is well organized in his teaching and ensures his students remain engaged. He has also taken on leadership roles outside the classroom, such as introducing a mentoring program for adolescent males. The supervisor gives Mr. Vicks his highest recommendation and believes he would be a superb addition to any school.

1. Mercy College New Teacher Residency Program
1200 Waters Place, Room 4175
Bronx, New York 10461
June 10, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my pleasure to write you on behalf of one of my graduate students, Clinton
Vicks. Clinton is a first year student in the Teaching Fellows program at Mercy College
pursuing an M.S.ed. degree. I have provided clinical supervision as part of a practicum
course he takes with me. I have visited Clinton at his school 8 times during this academic
year that included 7 formal observations, 2 conversations with his supervisor, and 8
individual dialogues. As a former NYC school Principal, I have a keen eye for talented
teachers. Without question, Clinton Vicks is an outstanding addition to the teaching
profession.
Clinton has superb human relations skills that have helped him forge strong bonds
of trust with his students. They respect him and look to him for direction. Mr. Vicks
teaches a challenging population of special needs students at John F. Kennedy High
School. All of his students have some type of learning disability along with many of the
attendant emotional issues that L.D. students possess. Nevertheless, Clinton has
developed a very effective style. He combines strength, sensitivity, understanding, and
clearly communicated expectations to his students. He rewards those that deserve it and
he invokes consequences where necessary. Clinton is poised and confident with his
students as he displays a very pleasing and professional demeanor. Mr. Vicks is always
in control of the situation, always in command of his classroom. He is an outstanding
classroom manager. He sets very high expectations for his students and he insists they
live up to these expectations. Although he is sympathetic at times, nobody gets a free
pass from doing what they are supposed to do. His students like him a great deal and he
is a role model for them.
Additionally, Mr. Vicks is a very well organized person. He plans well in
advance and takes his teaching responsibilities very seriously. His teaching is interesting

2. and engaging. Mr. Vicks provides well structured lessons in his Living Science
classroom as well as dynamic lessons in his music classes. During the latter classes, it
would not be unusual for Clinton to demonstrate vocally as he is a trained professional
vocalist. He ensures his students remain engaged in the subject matter and there is a very
high student time on task ratio during his classes. I have seen his students transformed
during the course of this year into conscientious learners who are very interested in
performing well academically.
Clinton is a true team member at his school and he will readily volunteer where
needed the most. For example, Mr. Vicks has introduced the Kappa Leadership
Development League young men at Kennedy H.S. He has spent countless hours and
great effort to provide a life mentoring program for adolescent minority males. This
initiative involved recruiting students, to which the response was outstanding, and having
his fraternity members to act as big brothers. The young men in this program learn about
self pride, civic responsibilities, community service and planning future goals. The
results have been inspiring to say the least. Clinton is reliable and very conscientious
about his own responsibilities. He is one of the few new teachers I work with who has
demonstrated true leadership skills during his first year in the profession. Clinton is an
integral part of the Special Education unit at this school and his supervisor holds him in
very high regard.
To summarize, Clinton Vicks is an excellent teacher, outstanding professional and
a superb role model for young adults. If I were still leading a school, I would hire him
immediately. Clinton Vicks represents everything that is positive about the future of
public education. It is without any reservation, I give Clinton Vicks my highest
recommendation for future employment. He would be a superb addition to any
educational community.
Sincerely yours,
David Vas Nunes
David Vas Nunes