This letter provides a strong recommendation for Tom Spillman from the Superintendent of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. It summarizes that Tom spearheaded the development of a dual enrollment program between the district and Mt. San Jacinto College that has allowed thousands of students to earn college credits while in high school. Tom also developed remediation courses to help students meet requirements for college-level coursework after graduation. The letter highlights that Tom's leadership has helped increase college-going rates and access to higher education for students in the district. The superintendent expresses full confidence in Tom and his abilities as an educator and change agent.

1. Board of Education
Robin Crist Kenneth
C. Dickson Paul F.
Diffley III
Barbara J. Muir
Kris Thomasian
Patrick Kelley
Superintenden
Our Mission
To inspire
even} shtdent
to think, to learn,
to achieve, to care
District Support Center
41870 McAiby Court
Murrieta, CA 92562
(951) 696-1600
Fax (951) 304-1536
www.murrieta.k12.ca.us
January 3, 2017
To Whom It May Concern:
I am honored to be asked to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of a
tremendous and talented educator, Tom Spillman. I have known and worked
with Tom over several years and have nothing but confidence in all he has
done. It is with great pleasure and confidence that I write this letter of
recommendation on his behalf.
My work with Tom began in 2009. At this time, Tom spearheaded the
establishment of the Dual Enrollment program for Mt. San Jacinto College. We
were fortunate to be the test district to gauge its effectiveness. Tom carried this
project at all stages from development, negotiations, implementation, and
assessment. Thousands of our high school students have accessed college level
coursework due to his efforts. This task was complex and required a diligent
and patient change agent to bring about its success. Tom filled that role
perfectly. All partners in this endeavor: the K-12 districts, the students, the
parents, and the Community College view his leadership as the single driver for
its unqualified success. The program has become the signature program for
Vista Murrieta High School and is one of the reasons nearly one thousand
students elect to attend this school rather than their home school. Students and
parents regularly share with me how their child completes a significant portion
of their college requirements before graduating high school. The savings for our
families has been informally calculated to be in the millions. The success we
experience is now replicated with over twenty schools in our region.
Tom's most recent work with us to has been the development of college-level
remediation coursework for our high school students who otherwise would
enter the community college behind. English and math courses are now
offered to junior and senior high school students during their school day that
plug holes in the their educational content needs. This allows them to meet the
requirements to access college-level coursework right after graduation without
the need for remediation. Again, it was his leadership and planning that
brought success for our students who needed some extra support to be able to
access community college for credit immediately after graduation.
Tom and I had the opportunity to work alongside United States Education
Secretary Arne Duncan and his staff in the summer of2014 for the White
House initiative on college access. Out of this endeavor came the Riverside
County Education Collaborative (RCEC). Our region is recognized as a leader
in the nation for efforts to increase access to college and college level
curriculum, improve FAFSA completion rates, and reduce the need for
remediation. The programs and efforts Tom led are examples of excellence and
success that are being shared throughout the nation.

2. Letter regarding Tom Spillman
January 3, 2017
Page Two
I have been most pleased with our partnership with MSJC as it relates to college
transition counselors who are placed on our high school campuses for the purpose
of making that transition from K-12 to college seamless and effective for students
and parents. Tom developed and implemented this program. Our counseling staff
works with the MSJC transition counselor who is on our high school site to be
certain that all community college going students are identified, connected, pre-
registered, followed through the summer, and successfully enrolled for the fall
after graduation. Our data suggests that college going rates have greatly increased
due to this effort Tom spear-headed.
Tom possesses a gift in relationships with people that allow him to be a very
effective change agent. He is consistent day in and day out with a very positive
and optimistic outlook about the possibilities for our young people and their
future. He is a quality individual, a hard-worker, a respected educator, all
wrapped up in an inclusive style. It is this persona coupled with his tenacity to
make things happen that has earned him the respect of all. He is talented, adept,
and knowledgeable about educational initiatives and preparing students for the
21st century world. He is an organizer and he gets people energized around these
initiatives without ever losing sight of the main objective -provide the very best
for students, whatever it takes!
I am not exaggerating Tom's worth and abilities. He is the central driving force
behind these successful endeavors. I support him completely and without
reservation. He is the very best of what I have seen of college leaders. I look
forward to being able to speak with you about Tom and what he will bring to your
organization.
Sincerely,
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
ell
Superintendent