GUIDELINES
- Introduce yourself. State your name, your current position, and the institution or company you work for.
- Explain how you know the teacher being recommended. State your observations about the teacher's performance and character traits, using brief examples of first-hand experience to back up your claims. Explain why you believe he is a good fit for the job or institution concerned.
- Close your letter with an invitation to contact you for clarification or further information.
SAMPLE LETTER
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Letter Date]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-
Dear [Recipients Name],
Good day. I am Carla Burns, Ph.D., and I currently work as the Assistant Principal at Drake State University.
It has come to my attention that one of our former teachers at Drake, Ms. Ellen Kaye, is applying for a position as Associate Professor at XYZ College. She taught at DSU for five years and during this period, I was able to interact with her and observe her performance as Instructor.
During her stint with DSU, Ms. Kaye showed herself to be an enthusiastic teacher with a real love for her profession. Not only did she receive consistently good feedback from her students, but she also submitted, at least, one study for publication for every year of her stay here. I believe that she will do an impeccable job as an Associate Professor.
Should you need further information, please feel free to contact me through Jean-Lou, my assistant, at 555-5555.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Recommending someone for a teaching position. Sample letter.
Further things to consider when writing reference letters to schools
Reference Letters
Reference letters are letters written to endorse someone's general character and personality. A reference letter differs from a recommendation letter in that the latter supports the person's application for a specific job or education program and is usually addressed to a particular person. A reference letter is more general in nature, refers to the overall character of the person, and is not addressed to anyone in particular. It is normally addressed as "Dear sir/madam," or "To whom it may concern." The person who writes the reference letter is known as the referee, and he/she could be a close friend or colleague.
For you to write good reference letters, you need to know the candidates well to be able to express their best character. Start off with a salutation and the name of the person the letter is about. Write a sentence or two explaining how you know the person and for how long. Mention the strong qualities, characteristics, and strengths of the person in question. Giving brief examples, discuss why you feel the person will be a great addition to office and work culture. Use strong verbs but do not exaggerate. Conclude with your contacts and signature.
Letters to Schools
Letters to schools are letters written to institutions designed to provide learning environment and spaces to pupils and students. There are many times when you may feel the need to write to a school administration. Maybe you want to recommend a student or employee or want to apply for an academic program. Perhaps your child has a disability, and you want to make sure that he/she is receiving special education services. Whatever the issue, putting your thoughts in writing avoids confusion since it provides you and the recipient with a record of your request. It is, therefore, crucial to keep a copy of any letter you send.
All letters to schools must use the standard business letter style. Start your letter with the proper address and salutation. Introduce yourself and explain the reason for your letter clearly and concisely. Depending on the content of your letter, provide any documentation that gives the recipient reference to the case or clarifies your concerns. Keep the tone polite, respectful, and professional. Close by thanking the recipient for his/her time and with a note of anticipation of positive feedback. Sign off and proofread the final draft before sending it.
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