Excellence in Education Since 1963

9211 Arlington Boulevard

Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Phone (703) 273-8000
Fax (703) 591-1431

www.MerrittAcademy.org

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to provide a reference for Ms. Lauren Lewis. I had the pleasure of being Ms. Lewis’
supervisor for two school years, during which she was a lead teacher for a classroom of three year old
students. From the moment she started, Lauren hit the ground running, determined to make her mark
on her students, families and coworkers. Her parents, students and coworkers appreciated and
benefitted from her enthusiasm, her intelligence, and her desire to succeed.

There is no doubt that Ms. Lewis is a born teacher; she has the commitment, drive and compassion
necessary to meet student needs and nurture them as they grow and develop. Her bright, positive
outlook combines with her intelligence and problem solving skills to create a highly effective educator.
Lauren was constantly seeking to learn all that she could about methodologies, practices, theories and
resources that could help her to better reach her students. Her lucky students were the recipients of
carefully lesson planning, scaffolded learning and individualized planning as well as a creative learning
environment that encouraged students to blossom.

Lauren’s classroom was always bright, cheerful and engaging. Her relationships with families were
exemplary, forming a bond with parents and gaining their trust readily. One of Lauren’s special gifts lies
in her ability to get to know each student individually and really pinpoint their needs- academic, as well
as social-emotional. She was able to express even hard-to-swallow concerns to parents with a loving
touch that brought about the true partnership we always hope our teachers will build with families.

Another thing that set Ms. Lewis apart is her professionalism in her desire to grow, learn and contribute
to the school community as a whole. As a passionate educator, Lauren found her way onto numerous
school committees in order to provide input, ideas and guidance for the betterment of the school
community. She is a natural leader who is able to inspire coworkers.

I would highly recommend Lauren Lewis as a valuable addition to her teaching staff. She has a great deal
to offer in the way of strong instincts, professional experience, motivation and intellect, and would be a
stellar addition to any school environment. If I can further assist you in understanding what Ms. Lewis
has to offer, please do not hesitate to contact me, as I would welcome the opportunity to share more of
her excellent work during her time at Merritt Academy.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Genie O’Hara
Director of Early Childhood Education