October 29, 2019

To Whom It May Concern:

RE: Colin Baron

I am pleased to provide a recommendation on behalf of Colin Baron, a teaching candidate due

to graduate from Hope College in December 2019. I have known Colin as a student in four
courses and also as a student teacher. Upon graduation, he will be recommended for an
Elementary teaching certificate with an endorsement in Special Education-Learning Disabilities.
This combination will allow him to teach all subjects in elementary classrooms (K-5) and special
education in grades kindergarten through twelfth.

From the start, I could see that Colin was an intentional and relational young man. He was an
engaged and inquisitive student. His questions and comments were indicative of preparation
and understanding. He was not afraid to ask questions to clarify his knowledge or probe deeper
and as a result, performed well in my classes.

Hope’s Teacher Education Program is unique in several ways, but most notably in the way it
structures its clinical experience component. With almost every Education course, Colin found
himself in a related field placement in local schools. A quick scan through his résumé reveals
the wide range of placements and experiences he’s had in both general and special education
settings. In each, he received positive evaluations from the mentor teacher. Each subsequent
experience provided access to students in the K-12 setting while building his skills and
repertoire of teaching tools. Prior to his student teaching experiences, Colin had already
accrued over 240 hours of clinical experience. Colin has already completed a successful
student teaching experience in an elementary classroom and is well on his way to finishing
strong in his special education student teaching experience as well.

In addition to these required experiences, Colin has also made good use of his time outside the
classroom. He has been involved as a student researcher with Education Department faculty
and has volunteered in a local school on a regular basis. He has also held part-time work
positions while balancing his schoolwork.

Colin is an engaging, relational individual with strong interpersonal skills and a good work ethic.
He has a passion for working with children and youth, particularly those with learning and
behavioral challenges. I am happy to recommend him for a teaching position in either general
or special education and endorse his candidacy.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Cook
Professor of Education
Director of Student Teaching
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, HOPE COLLEGE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN 49423