From: Rob Foster <RFoster@usd232.

org>
Subject: Future teacher award
Date: February 26, 2019 at 12:27:04 PM CST
To: 'Jessica Brummel' <jbrummel14@ksu.edu>

Knowledge of Content and Teaching Pedagogy:

Jessica Brummel is well beyond her years and is
musically very strong. She understands how to fix
the students problems and appropriately can identify
the problems, and prescribe solutions so that the
students understand what is necessary to sound
GREAT! She has a super rapport with the students-
5th Grade 8th Grade. She relates well, has gotten to
know them personally and has done a great job
building relationships with students and other
teachers. She sets realistic short and long term goals,
has used many different resources throughout her
student teaching, and has successfully given playing
tests to my younger kids. She is spot on, and her
caring personality and positivity are well received by
my band kids

Engaging and Managing Classes:

Ms. Brummel meets the students in the hallway as
they are entering the classroom. She gets to know
the kids on a personal level to where they were super
concerned that something had happened to her when
she was in Wichita for the KMEA conference. She has
very strong classroom management skills, and
without raising her voice, demands the kids pay
attention or stop doing whatever is needed (i.e.
talking) so she can deliver the content to the band.
She will arrive before class to make sure that the
band set up is appropriately ready- with chairs and
stands in place, and the tunes we are working on are
easily accessible to hand out if students need them.

Communicating with Students:

Ms. Brummel has a wonderful and engaging
personality. She is positive, friendly, and
communicates extremely well. Often, she would ask
students musical terms, or what is necessary for
students to play certain notes. What separates
Jessica from many former students is her ability to
"identify and fix the problems" in a rehearsal.

Reflecting on Teaching, Growing:

Jessica is 100% committed to being a terrific music
educator. She pays close attention to detail, has been
great in letting band parents and other band directors
informed on our solo- ensemble festival. Ms. Brummel
has attended all faculty and exploratory meetings and
has contributed her input. She has also worked in our
in school suspension room with students who have
broken school policies. Jessica attended the state
music education conference in Wichita (KMEA) and
attended numerous concerts and sessions to help her
in her desire to be an outstanding band director.

Going above and beyond:

Jessica is eager and willing to put in the extra time
necessary to help her students reach their full
potential. She attended the Kansas John Philip Sousa
Honor Band and reception and was able to get to
know and visit with Linda Moorehouse (Univ. of
Illinois), Jena McElwain (Olathe MS Director), and
Johanna Cox (KBA Hall of Fame Director). These are
some of the top music educators in the business and
are terrific role models. Jessica spent an entire
weekend with the individuals, observing their
teaching and conducting. Additionally, she has helped
me organize my middle school SOLO/ENSEMBLE
festival with over 300 students participating. She has
put in numerous hours with this project and will also
had the opportunity to meet and hang out with all of
my judges who are Kansas ROCK STAR music
educators. She spent many extra hours and
weekends helping me edit the band songs we are
playing this semester at Lexington Trails Middle
School. Ms. Brummel has been wonderful assisting me
with my band program, always asking what she can
do to help out.

Additional Comments:
I have had a number of strong student teachers in the
past, but not very many that I have felt 100%
comfortable with conducting my top band at contest.
She has done such a terrific job student teaching that
I am having her conduct 2 of my 3 songs at our
District wide Band Festival. She conducted Seal
Lullaby by Eric Whitacre and Bugler's Holiday by Leroy
Anderson. She does a great job on the podium!