TCNJ ‘THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY April 26, 2018 Dear Colleague, Lam delighted to write a strong letter in support of the qualifications of Julia MeKiint teacher-educator. Julia will graduate in May 2018 from our highly selective Special Education Master of Arts in Teaching program. In addition to her outstanding academic and co-curricular record, | have personally witnessed Julia’s academic and professional development on the topic of supporting student behavior. Her exemplary levels of collaboration, thoughtful lesson planning, and commitment to inclusive education make her an outstanding candidate for any teaching position. I came to know Julia as a student in my advanced level graduate course on the social and cultural constructions of behavior. Julia was eager to learn about the fields of disability studies, culturally sustaining practices, and inclusive education. She is consistently focused on how to support diverse leamers ina variety of educational and social settings. These characteristics, along with her thoughtful leadership skills, make her an outstanding candidate for a position within your school community. ‘As her resume demonstrates, Julia has considerable experience in a number of pre-service teaching placements. This has greatly enhanced her ability to work alongside culturally and linguistically diverse students and families. Julia is deeply committed to understanding access and inclusion for all students and brings a scholarly lens to this work along with practical experience. In my class, Julia was collaborative and professional with her peers. She demonstrated a keen awareness about the mismatches that occur in traditional behavior ‘management systems, established the beginnings of a cultural lens for viewing behavioral norms, and utilized various resources to affirm the cultural and linguistic diversity found in school environments. [ am impressed by her ability to work well with individuals from various backgrounds and her attention to issues of inclusion in school settings. In all her endeavors, Julia is responsive to the needs of individuals and collaborative in her planning. Whether teaching abroad in Amsterdam, tutoring incarcerated citizens in the Petey Greene Program, serving as a ‘mentor for Career and Community Studies, or taking advanced level courses on the topics of inclusive education, Julia is genuinely focused on the collective well being and long term success. of the communities she serves. She is a thoughtful and committed leader who is well-respected by her colleagues. Julia continually seeks out opportunities to challenge herself in new ways and design experiences that support the growth and intellectual curiosity of all learners. I would be happy to provide any additional information about her qualifications. Julia is an outstanding educator and has my highest recommendation. Lauren Shallish, PhD P.O. Box 7718, Ewing, NJ08628-0718 60971-2308, hittp//specialeducation.pages.tenj.edu