The Gary and JerrisAna Jacobs HIGH TECH HIGH June 2018 ‘To whom it may concern regarding Matt Patrick It is my honor to write Mat a letter of recommendation as he continues in education. My name is Jamie Senescall and I am an inclusion specialist at High Tech High. My role within a fully inclusive school is to ensure students \with individual learning plans (IEPs) and teaming challenges ean access the curriculum, and ultimately feel successful. Without tracking, the way students with IEPs succeed is from collaboration with the general education teachers. If I could dream up a classroom that seamlessly implemented accommodations in a non stigmatizing ‘way, encouraged students to advocate, and academically pushed (and supported) our students, it would be Matt Patrick's Within the classroom, Matt provides a significant amount of support to the students who leam differently, What he offers to all students, but especially to students with IEPs is to make them feel safe, yet empowered. Whether he is providing thoughtful group roles for students who struggle with social challenges due to a diagnosis of Autism, or access to graphic organizers to assist students with a learning disability in writing, he meets the student where they are at. An example from Matt’s class is a weekly reading log. Here, students read complex texts and then have an annotation assignment, Some students may write questions they have, others look up words they have never heard of, while others may write a reflection about how the text relates to their own life. What I appreciate about this is every student can access the work and Matt places value on individual growth. His goal is to have the students interact with the text, become enthusiastic readers, and each Week notice that they can lear and challenge themselves a little bit more, Students are also given all resources they need to complete this assignment from one-on-one check-ins (so they can verbally explain their thoughts), assistive technology such as Google read and write, or just additional time to show their knowledge. It is impressive that Matt differentiates and implements strategies that work for students with TEPs for his whole class. After working with Matt for four years, this is one of countless examples of the care and consideration he gives to the students. Looking through a special education lens, Matt has the ability to get to know the students on a deeper level, beyond academies and beyond any learning challenges. 1 am grateful that students ate pushed to ask questions, reflect, and grow in their confidence, Matt Patrick is a teacher who clearly values universal design strategies; not because it is outlined in an IEP but because itis what's best for the whole child. 1 give Matt Patrick my highest recommendation and have no doubt that his thoughtful, genuine, and devoted ‘teaching will translate to any setting. I welcome any questions you may have. With appreciation, Jamie Senescall (cenescall @hightechhigh.org 619.243.5000 ext 50217 @ @ # BB EE @ @ 2 6 BH Re ee we Okt Wambla Baad Can Riana CA OP1NE «Tal (610) 2A2-EAAN « Fay (£10) 9A2-ENEN » wnat hinhtorhhinh men