Theresa M.

Friis
9917 Derbyshire Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
December 30, 2010
Re: Letter of Recommendation for Amy Gleason for the Agnes Meyer Award
Dear Sir or Madam:
I understand that Amy Gleason has been nominated for the Agnes Meyer Award.
Amy and I have worked closely and collaboratively at Chevy Chase Elementary
School in MCPS for five years. Throughout my relationship with Amy, I cannot say
that I have met or worked with a finer person.
Her initiative, tenacity and problem-solving skills are phenomenal, and she has a
gift for thinking outside the box in order to maximize the potential of the students
in her charge. She has devised numerous hands-on science activities such as
Invention Convention during which students create a product that is useful and of
service to the community. She orchestrated a morning-long event called Sports and
Science Day in which the students were enthusiastically engaged in sports while
simultaneously learning about the laws of motion firsthand.
Among her many responsibilities, Amy has worked as the 6 th grade Science and
Social Studies teacher with myriad assignments including, but not limited to, small
group differentiated instruction; individual tutorials; creating and presenting new
curriculum material; explaining complex concepts; giving multi-step directions;
activating prior knowledge; re-explaining old material; dealing with student
confusions; and making connections during instruction. Amy differentiates the
curriculum to accommodate even the neediest of students. She provides adapted
texts for struggling readers, alternative assignments for students with learning
disabilities, incentive programs for children with behavioral issues, and provides of
forum for students self-expression. In essence, Amy has been an outstanding
teacher who meets individuals needs and fosters individuals talents, while
nurturing individuals self-esteem. She instills in her students the desire to learn and
achieve beyond the confines of the curriculum.
Amy has a thorough knowledge of Science and Social Studies content and has a
unique ability to share this knowledge effectively and to engage with her many
diverse students. If ever there was a teacher who considers curriculum guides as
just that---guides---its Amy! She augments the curriculum with her vast knowledge
of Science and Social Studies. I have witnessed her spending an enormous amount
of time researching topics so that her classroom presentations are the most up-todate and current information available. Her cheerful demeanor and enthusiasm for
her subject is contagious. The students enjoy her classes immensely. She has an
innate understanding of children and relates to them on a personal, yet professional
level.
As you will discover upon meeting her, Amy is extremely articulate and has a
proven ability to communicate with colleagues as well as children, both in writing

and in person. She stimulates students creativity and desire for learning. She
motivates colleagues to rise to a higher level of performance as well. She is the
ultimate team player. Her organizational and interpersonal skills have helped the
6th grade team function at a high level. She has organized field trips, educational
presentations, has shared her knowledge in faculty meetings, and has acted as a
mentor to other teachers, both formally and on in informal basis. Amy consistently
reaches out to the parents and community members through extensive use of the
website which she oversees as well as evening parent meetings, forums, and
discussions.
I highly recommend Amy for the Agnes Meyer Award. Due to her leadership skills
and proven work ethic, Amy will be a superior choice as a recipient. Her leadership
skills are exemplary which have resulted in both her colleagues and students high
level of respect and regard for her. Whether it be during Outdoor Education,
Invention Convention, the MythBusters Project, Sports and Science Day, or during
the course of daily instruction, dependability, reliability, consistency, and
steadfastness are words that come to mind when I think of Amys service to our
school over the past five years.
If you have any questions or wish to speak with me directly about Amy, I am more
than happy to do so. Please do not hesitate to call. I can be reached at (301) 7854733 anytime.
Very sincerely yours,
Theresa M. Friis
6th Grade English Teacher
Chevy Chase Elementary School