PALMA NON SINE PULVERE

ST. JOSEPH catholic high

school
10830-109 Street Avenue NW | Edmonton, AB T5H 3C1 | Tel: 780 426-2010 |
www.stjoseph.ecsd.

May 9, 2018

Re: Michaelle Haughian

To whom it may concern:

It is my pleasure to write this letter of reference for Michaelle Haughian as she pursues a
teaching position with Edmonton Public Schools. Michaelle has been working at St. Joseph High
School for the past two years and has been a tremendous asset to the staff and, in particular, the
Social Studies Department. It is only due to budget restraints that Michaelle will not be
continuing on the St. Joe’s staff. She will be greatly missed.

When Michaelle was hired two years ago, I was impressed by her knowledge of pedagogy. As a
new teacher in the Self-Directed Learning program, Michaelle was able to seamlessly integrate
her teaching experience into an entirely new situation. She quickly became proficient in working
with students in a non-traditional environment, offering one-on-one help, supervising large
numbers of students on the learning floor, and effectively teaching students in seminars that
occur once or twice a week, rather than every day. Michaelle is also an integral part of our
department as we have been writing and revising learning guides and tests. Her knowledge of
subject matter and her ability to think in creative ways is much appreciated by our team.
Michaelle has also brought this creativity to her position as Social Studies teacher in the Jean
Forest Leadership Academy (all-girls’ program) by integrating female perspectives into her
instruction of the Social Studies 10-1/10-2 and 20-1/20-2 programs of studies.

Michaelle has high standards for herself and her students and this is apparent in all her
interactions with students. She is meticulous in her planning and teaching, thorough in her
assessment, and thoughtful in her feedback. Students appreciate her honesty and diplomacy.
Michaelle dedicated a great deal of time and energy to enhancing students’ experiences both in
and out of the classroom. Michaelle was the founder of the St. Joseph Aspire Club, and
environmental group dedicated to education and sustainability. She was the organizer and staff
advisor for the Water Summit, which featured guest speakers and displays to inform about
responsible water usage. Michaelle has also been an active participant on the ATA Edmonton
Regional Social Studies Council, helping to plan and promote events for Social Studies teachers
across the Edmonton area.