References
Below are three letters of recommendations. The first is from a former colleague, Aileen Foster. The second is from my college supervisor, Dr. Erica Greer. Lastly, the third is from my cooperating teacher, Mrs. Heather Freed.
Letter of Recommendation for Ms. Elizabeth Perry
March 7, 2026
To Whom It May Concern:
I am extremely pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Elizabeth Perry. Elizabeth and I discussed her decision to pursue her graduate studies in the field of education in her late thirties and I was very pleased when she decided to do so.
I have not only known Elizabeth personally for over twenty years, but I also had the pleasure of working with her as a Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS) for Pennsylvania Mentor. There, we worked one-on-one with students with Autism within the classroom. Elizabeth was patient, supportive, and cared for each individual student that she worked with. She went above and beyond her job description to ensure that her students were receiving individualized education and providing different strategies for teachers and other staff members to use to help accommodate each child while engaged in learning. Not only did Elizabeth provide strategies and techniques for her students to help them academically, she also helped her students work on their daily social skills. She also provided daily communication with the teachers and staff, whom she built a strong rapport with.
Elizabeth is a high-talented, goal-orientated, dedicated, selfless individual whose kindness and hardwork has helped her to prosper in life. I truly admire her passion and commitment to exert her best efforts in all of her tasks-whether professional or personal.
If you would like to know more about Elizabeth, please feel free to contact me at 267-229-0416 or afoster@bensalemsd.org.
Sincerely,
Aileen Foster, MEd
Special Education Teacher
Bensalem Township School District
Southern Lehigh School District
Hopewell Elementary School
4625 West Hopewell Road
Center Valley, Pa 18034
(610) 791-0200
Friday, June 12, 2026
Heather Helfrich-Freed
First Grade Teacher
Hopewell Elementary School
4625 West Hopewell Road
Center Valley, PA 18034
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in reference to the student teaching experience that Elizabeth Perry performed in my first grade classroom from the third week of January through mid May of 2026.
Miss Perry was a dynamic and enthusiastic student teacher as she conducted a first grade class of 22 children; within this First Grade class there are quite a few children which have a variety of social, emotional, and/or academic needs. The class included students that received speech and/or were being evaluated for occupational therapy. There were 2 two students with a diagnosis of autism along with ADD/ADHD and another two with ADHD.
During the student teaching experience Miss Perry provided hands-on experiences as well as differentiated opportunities for the children. Through addressing various learning styles, Miss Perry engaged and extended the children’s learning, while at the same time she allowed for re-teaching and reinforcement of concepts. Her control of the classroom permitted for easy and quick transitioning between the numerous lessons on any given day. Miss Perry was always encouraging and positive when working with the students.
Miss Perry communicated very well and felt extremely comfortable working with students, peers, administrators, and/or parents. Also, Miss Perry attended all meetings both during and after school hours including faculty meetings, in-services and all other school functions. Her professionalism and conscientious nature are important qualities that would make her an asset to any school district.
It was a pleasure to have Miss Perry as a student teacher in my classroom. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at (610) 791-0200 extension 2136 or freedh@slsd.org per my school email.
With regards,
Heather Helfrich-Freed
Heather Helfrich-Freed
Dr. Erica Greer
5/14/2026
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter in support of Ms. Elizabeth Perry for an Elementary teaching position. I had the pleasure of supervising Ms. Perry during her Spring 2026 student teaching placement in a first-grade classroom at Hopewell Elementary School in the Southern Lehigh School District. Throughout the semester, I observed her continued professional growth, dedication to students, and strong commitment to improving her instructional practices through reflection and feedback.
One of Ms. Perry’s greatest strengths is her willingness to accept and apply feedback to strengthen her teaching. She consistently approached supervision meetings, lesson reflections, and classroom observations with professionalism and a growth mindset. Rather than becoming discouraged by challenges, she demonstrated persistence and a genuine desire to improve each day. She thoughtfully implemented suggestions provided by her mentor teacher and supervisors and consistently reflected on how instructional decisions impacted student learning and engagement.
Throughout her placement, Ms. Perry applied herself fully to learning and implementing the routines, instructional programs, and expectations established within the classroom environment. She demonstrated dedication and perseverance while learning to teach within structured instructional models including Wit and Wisdom, Fundations, mathematics instruction, small-group literacy, and small-group math intervention. She worked diligently to understand each component of instruction and consistently prepared herself to take on increasing classroom responsibilities with confidence and professionalism.
Ms. Perry also brought valuable prior experiences working with diverse learners into her student teaching placement. Her background as a substitute teacher, teacher assistant in autistic support settings, and therapeutic support staff allowed her to approach students with patience, empathy, and an understanding of individual learning and behavioral needs. She consistently demonstrated compassion and professionalism while supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally.
In the classroom, Ms. Perry worked to build positive relationships with students while creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. She remained dependable, organized, and committed to maintaining classroom routines and expectations. Her persistence and willingness to continue learning were evident throughout the semester as she developed confidence in lesson delivery, classroom management, and instructional planning.
Additionally, Ms. Perry has demonstrated a commitment to continued professional growth through coursework and professional development opportunities including Structured Literacy training, Trauma-Informed Care, suicide prevention training, and behavioral health awareness programs. These experiences reflect her dedication to supporting the whole child and creating safe, inclusive learning environments for all students.
I am confident that Ms. Perry will continue to grow and thrive as a thoughtful and compassionate educator. Her perseverance, openness to feedback, and dedication to supporting students will make her a valuable addition to any school community. I recommend her for a teaching position and believe she will positively impact both students and colleagues alike. Please feel free to contact me if additional information is needed by telephone at 610-393-9389 or by email at egreer4@esu.edu.
Yours in Education,
Erica L. Greer
Erica L. Greer, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department
Coordinator of Student Teaching
