Western Albemarle High School

TELEPHONE (434) 823-8700 5941 ROCKFISH GAP TURNPIKE

FAX (434) 823-8711 CROZET, VIRGINIA 22932

May 1, 2018

To Whom It May Concern:

I write the following recommendation for Shawna Ergenbright wholeheartedly. Shawna was a student
teacher with me at Western Albemarle High School during the Spring Semester of 2018. During that time I
have become extremely aware of her talent and drive. She thoroughly prepares for each day and teaches with a
high level of enthusiasm and expertise.
Though I have only known Shawna for a few months, it is very clear that she has been well trained at
James Madison University and ready to take on a leadership role in music education. She has had several
leadership rolls at JMU, including drum major of the JMU Marching Royal Dukes. She also assumed
leadership roles while teaching at Western Albemarle High School. She led classes of students in Symphonic
Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Guitar, and even worked with the students in the spring musical
production of Legally Blonde.
Shawna is a caring and compassionate individual, which helps her establish a safe and comfortable
learning environment. Students quickly learn that they can approach her with questions or challenges that they
encounter. Her personality and style of teaching allows students to take risks in the classroom, which ultimately
helps develop their skills.
Indeed, Shawna offers a variety of skills and expertise that make her a valuable asset to any school or
organization. If you need any other information about the qualifications of Shawna Ergenbright, or simply have
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Joel Hartshorn
Director of Bands
Western Albemarle High School
jhartshorn@k12albemarle.org
540-325-1089
JANKAUSX@JMU.EDU
OFFICE PHONE: 540-568-3847
CELL PHONE: 713-819-4354
WWW.SARUNASJANKAUSKAS.COM

SARUNAS JANKAUSKAS, D.M.A.

May 16, 2018

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this Letter of Recommendation for Ms. Shawna Ergenbright. I have worked with
Shawna as one of her primary instructors and advisors at James Madison University since August of
2016.

I enjoyed getting to know Shawna in her clarinet lessons and observed her apparent progress in
many ways. She was an easy student to interact with, due to her genuine and respectful demeanor,
positive attitude and honest approach to assigned work. During her time with me, Shawna has
greatly improved her fundamentals of clarinet playing as well as developed into a confident and
expressive player. She presented a refined Senior Recital with varied program, and simply speaking,
performed at her best ability, with clarity, conviction and beautiful tone.

Shawna was an important member of our JMU Clarinet Studio. Through her interactions with
Studio members she reflected collegiality, clear verbal communication skills, constructive and
balanced feedback during our Studio Classes. Her leadership skills were also strongly present within
her role as Section Leader and Drum Major in JMU’s Marching Royal Dukes. An even more
impressive Shawna’s quality was her ability to manage various academic tasks with additional
employment. Also, she was an excellent student worker in our Music Office. This gives her a
necessary experience of endurance that is so essential in the field of music education.

Shawna’s abilities to be organized, combined with her people’s skills, and, most importantly,
enthusiasm for success in music education makes her an excellent candidate for varied positions in
the field. I am pleased to recommend her with high potential to be a productive educator and
considerate, hard-working colleague. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Respectfully,

Dr. Sarunas Jankauskas

Assistant Professor of Clarinet
James Madison University
 Matthew L. Mrosko
Peter Muhlenberg Middle School
1251 Susan Avenue
Woodstock, VA 22664
W: 540-459-2941
C: 540-664-6230
mlmrosko@shenandoah.k12.va.us

April 26, 2018

Shawna Ergenbright

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to recommend Shawna Ergenbright for the position of band director in your
school division. I had the pleasure of working with Shawna for half of her student
teaching experience. During this time, I witnessed her demonstrate outstanding teaching.

Shawna is very personable; she will quickly build a positive rapport with students and
establish a safe and positive learning environment. While Shawna was student teaching
with me, she was responsible for all aspects of the classroom. She took attendance,
planned for and taught daily lessons, conducted formal and informal formative
assessments, and updated grades. She aligned her lessons and assessments with the
Virginia SOLs for instrumental music. Despite Shawna coming in as a novice student
teacher, she used a variety of delivery methods to address the different learning styles in
the classroom. When students were struggling to understand new concepts, she was able
to adapt her teaching style to meet their needs. Shawna provided the students with a
positive learning experience, where they were able to continue to develop their skills,
knowledge, and understanding of music.

Shawna is very energetic and will effectively deliver classroom instruction. She is well
prepared and will make a great addition to your school’s faculty. I enjoyed watching her
teaching evolve to become more student centered during her time with me.

With her energy, positive personality, and dedication, Shawna will make a great band
director for your school division. I recommend her for employment without reservations.
If you have any questions or need further information please feel free to contact me at
540-664-6230.

Sincerely,

Matthew L. Mrosko