7/21/2019 Henry Letter of Reference

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Theodore Roosevelt High School 

4419 Center StreetDes Moines, Iowa 50312-2299

(515) 242-7272 Fax: (515) 242-7350

Kevin G. Biggs, Principal Erika L. Ramirez, School Improvement LeaderJoseph M. Blazevich, Vice Principal Todd A. Gordon, Activities AdministratorDouglas E. Calaway, Vice Principal Julie A. Spencer, RegistrarTascha J. Brown, School Improvement Leader Dona M. Adcock, Executive Secretary

Theodore Roosevelt High School Is A Professional Learning Community

Committed To The Success Of Every Student

December 9, 2015

To Whom It May Concern:

Alison Trimble has been a student teacher in my high school biology classes for sixteen weeks. She

has taught both with me and on her own with a class load of 147 students, including students

who have learning disabilities and ELL students. Alison Trimble has been responsible for teaching

four sections of general biology and one section of guided study hall. Additionally, she has assisted in

teaching AP Biology.

Ms. Trimble will have had the experience of teaching two complete units of biology over the course of

twelve weeks. During this time she has planned and implemented the daily lessons, homework,

inquiry labs, investigative labs and activities, formative assessments and unit tests. Alison has

successfully demonstrated her awareness of different learning styles and has adjusted assignments to

meet the varied needs of students. Her units were thoroughly prepared and implemented. She was

successful in monitoring and adjusting to various schedule changes in order to complete them duringher time of teaching.

Alison gained experience in integrating technology into the curriculum. She was able to use Moodle as

a class website to provide students with online learning experiences as well as opportunities for

differentiated instruction. She used Kahoot! and NearPod as formative assessment tools and used

webquests to connect students to the content. She has also become proficient in using a SmartBoard

for direct instruction. She was able to use these resources in a manner that engaged students and

covered required content.

Ms. Trimble taught units on photosynthesis compared to cellular respiration and biomolecules. She

was responsible for assessing students and assigning grades using standards referenced grading. She

attended professional development sessions in this area and participated with the biology

department in aligning curriculum to the Next Generation Science Standards. She also attended

district science meetings and contributed to district curriculum development.

7/21/2019 Henry Letter of Reference

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Theodore Roosevelt High School 

4419 Center StreetDes Moines, Iowa 50312-2299

(515) 242-7272 Fax: (515) 242-7350

Theodore Roosevelt High School Is A Professional Learning Community

Committed To The Success Of Every Student

Alison possesses a positive and enthusiastic personality. She was able to build rapport with the

students she worked with. She is knowledgeable, articulate and conscientious and makes the effort to

connect with students and staff. She works well with other team members and is willing to jump in

and participate in department tasks.

I am confident that Ms. Trimble will be an asset to any staff that she works with. She is confident,

knowledgeable, and is becoming a skillful teacher. I believe that she will continue to grow and become

even more effective as a teacher with further opportunities. Please feel free to contact me for more

information at Roosevelt High School, 515-242-7272, or email me at Deborah.henry@dmschools.org.

Sincerely,

Deborah Smith-Henry