Letters of recommendation may be required of principals when they transfer to another school, apply for a grant, or enroll in a doctoral program in education. It can be difficult to condense accomplishments and qualifications into one document because principals frequently accumulated years of work experience and training before obtaining their position. A succinct summary that highlights key accomplishments can give a birds-eye view of a successful career, but concentrating on one or two capstone experiences in more detail can add professional weight.
The letter of recommendation should immediately demonstrate that the principal possesses strong leadership qualities that support efficient school operations and student academic achievement. Effective letters of recommendation, according to the Oakland School District website, may discuss conflict resolution, reaching consensus, budget management, curriculum development, evaluation procedures, disciplinary behavior actions, and researching data relevant to educational processes. Expressing praise for more complex, specific leadership qualities that not all principals may possess becomes possible once it has been addressed that the principal meets or exceeds basic job function responsibilities.
Dr. Smith’s fiscal responsibility enabled his school in the Forest School District to turn around four years of budget deficit spending by strategically cutting costs in just one fiscal year. Through the implementation of training programs to assist teachers with low scores in developing the skills necessary for success in the classroom, he brought the same leadership to the middle school’s teacher evaluation process.
In addition to managing various aspects of campus life, principals frequently interact with students, meet with parents, communicate with school districts and community organizations, and make sure the school is adhering to its legal obligations. A personal touch that has a long-lasting impact can be added to the recommendation letters by discussing the principal’s daily duties. For instance, maybe the principal makes it a point to watch every football game or spends her lunchtime talking to students as she strolls around.
Vicki Adams infuses every position within a school district with a personal touch. She encouraged her students’ extracurricular activities as a teacher, even those that took place outside of the classroom. She made it a point to attend at least one school sporting event each week after being appointed principal of the neighborhood middle school to interact with students and parents in a more casual setting.
Letters of recommendation can highlight interpersonal skills because principals act as mediators between various groups of people. Letters could discuss a principal’s capacity to cooperate with the teachers union in a positive way, plan the logistics of state exams with government officials, represent the school well in the community media, and establish connections with other principals. Although a principal’s resume may highlight her academic accomplishments or highlight her stellar employment record, it also helps to show that she is well-liked and respected by her coworkers and students.
One day, a pupil at Fairbanks Elementary School dozed off on the way to school and was left on the bus for two hours. John Williams confidently answered questions in the ensuing media flurry, keeping parents informed while avoiding disclosing private personnel information. Deft communication skills are necessary given the possibility of litigation in high-profile situations, and Williams has a wealth of them.
Educators are an enthusiastic group of people, and many of them enter the profession with a specific vision that motivates their commitment and diligence. The principal might be dedicated to promoting social justice, educational equity, bilingualism, gifted and talented programming, increasing standardized test scores, or preparing high school students for postsecondary education and careers. Giving the principal a mission-driven persona puts her accomplishments into context because they relate to her larger philosophical objectives. Include concrete examples to help those reading the letter understand how actions relate to long-term goals when discussing more conceptual or abstract visions or goals.
Vale Johnson started a gifted and talented program for high-achieving students as soon as she started working at Carver Middle School. In her first year, she also introduced a state-designed curriculum intended to raise test scores by focusing for a week on crucial components. She persisted in promoting essential humanities and arts courses at the same time to encourage students to embrace all forms of learning. Test scores rose by 10% in the first year, and the number of students enrolled in the band and theater programs doubled.
Journalist from California Morgan Rush focuses on news, business writing, fitness, and travel. He has contributed to numerous national, regional, and local publications, including newspapers, magazines, and websites. Rush graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts.
- Choose a professional format. …
- State your qualifications. …
- Reference the position the teacher is applying for. …
- Highlight notable skills, traits, and accomplishments. …
- Give specific examples. …
- Provide contact information.
How to Request Teacher Recommendation Letters
Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.
The Harvard Graduate School of Education awarded Rebecca a Master’s degree in Adolescent Counseling. She has years of experience in both teaching and college counseling, and she is passionate about assisting students in realizing their aspirations and enhancing their wellbeing. She earned a magna cum laude diploma from Tufts University and an SAT score in the 99th percentile.
How to Write (Format)
A teacher recommendation letter should generally have a letterhead, an introduction, two or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The letter’s length will be determined by how well-versed the author is in the case they are writing for. That being said, it should only fill one page.
How to write a letter of recommendation for a teacher
Your letter of recommendation will declare your coworker or student to be the top applicant for a position. It displays qualities, skills, and abilities that aren’t particularly highlighted on the applicants’ teaching resumes.
Because they have worked with the applicant, colleagues and superiors are in a better position to speak highly of them. They bring a unique perspective to the table that their cover letter and resume do not. They learn things about the applicant’s intellect, personality, and interactions with students and other teachers by interacting with them. Without the recommendation, the interviewer won’t have a full understanding of the applicant.
As a result, you must concentrate on particular areas of the teacher’s experience and knowledge. It will also require some definite and clear examples. You should emphasize the significant and pertinent characteristics that set the applicant apart. Here is how to go about it:
1. Schedule a meeting with the instructor after you receive a letter from them. You can learn more about their preferred teaching methods, skill sets, and abilities during the meeting. These examples will help you customize your letter to the focus on the points they want you to highlight. Is it their positive classroom behavior, or alternatively, how they used SMART Boards to improve test scores?
2. Make the letter specific to the position’s requirements by requesting a copy of the job offer or posting and highlighting the needed qualifications. You can use this to highlight a few of your accomplishments and achievements that are pertinent to the job requirements.
3. Make the letter formal Use formal language in the letter. It should also be detailed, precise and to the point.
4. Indicate your connection to the applicant. It’s critical to mention how you know the teacher. Include the position you hold, the position the person you are recommending held, and the type of working relationship you had with them during your time working together.
5. As the saying goes, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything,” write a glowing recommendation. Don’t include anything negative on the recommendation letter. It would be beneficial if you demonstrated your confidence in the person’s abilities and expressed your lack of doubt. When describing them, use words like dependable, inventive, honest, and so forth. Please decline the invitation to write the letter if you have any reservations.
6. Give examples Illustrate with examples how the person exhibited the traits or abilities you mentioned. Use statistics to demonstrate your accomplishments since this is a job application for a teacher. For instance, consider how the students took on the role of coaching a school hockey team that was on the verge of dissolution.
7. Request a follow-up and give your contact information so the interviewer can get in touch with you if they need more details Include your telephone number and email.
How to write a letter of recommendation for a teacher
The process is straightforward:
Spend some time considering the why before deciding what to include in your teacher reference letter because this will determine the strategy you should use. Does the teacher requesting a recommendation want to enroll in a graduate program or accept a volunteer teaching position abroad? Are they applying for a new position at a school or university?
You can include the appropriate information if you know the answers to these questions. For instance, it would be beneficial to mention the teacher’s experience working with special needs children if they have applied for a Master’s program in special education. You could bring up their language abilities, work with immigrant children, and inclusive classroom behavior if they hope to teach young adults in another country.
Consider requesting additional information from this teacher if you don’t already have it. Even better if they could give you the job description for the position they’re applying for. If not, pick examples that are more general and highlight their abilities both personally and professionally.
FAQ
What should I write in a letter of recommendation for a teacher?
- Superior academic achievement.
- Extracurricular activity involvement.
- Outstanding personal qualities.
- Participation in and dedication to a particular field.
- The teacher’s confidence in Deborah’s abilities.
Can a principal write a letter of recommendation?
Some students request letters of recommendation from their principal, department head, or even a famous person or official. Although the recommendation letter may stand out if the person writing it is familiar with the applicant, the recommender’s authority or notoriety alone won’t necessarily impress admissions committees.
How do I ask my principal for a letter of recommendation as a teacher?
Visit the school office or email your principal to set up a meeting. Be direct, and ask politely. You should prepare a summary and a resume because your principal probably won’t be as familiar with your academics.
What should be included in a letter of recommendation for principal?
Effective letters of recommendation, according to the Oakland School District website, may discuss conflict resolution, reaching consensus, budget management, curriculum development, evaluation procedures, disciplinary behavior actions, and researching data relevant to educational processes.
