One
of my favorite professors recently asked me to write a letter of recommendation
for her. I was completely honored and
humbled at the experience to reflect on how much I really owe to her:
It is with great pride and pleasure that
I write this letter on behalf of Dr. Kimberly Pyne. For four years, Dr. Pyne
served as my mentor, professor, and coach while I completed my bachelor's
degree in English and earned a North Carolina teaching license at Elon
University. Dr. Pyne's knowledge, encouragement, and passion directly and
profoundly contributed to the career success I currently enjoy in the field of education.
Not only have I benefitted from Dr. Pyne's academic expertise, but I have also
benefitted from her experiential wisdom as well; she taught me one of the most
transformational life-lessons I have yet to experience, for which I will always
be most grateful.
The most significant opportunity of my
college career was completing my semester-long, student teaching internship. I
was placed in a high-poverty, historically low-achieving local high school
teaching senior English Language Arts. My cooperating teacher and I struggled
to develop a strong relationship, and I faced daily challenges working with
high-needs students. Within the first few weeks, I begged Dr. Pyne to assign me
a new placement, but, to my dismay, she would not. It was not until the end of
the semester that I realized why; Dr. Pyne believed in my skills, passion, and
ability to overcome the obstacles I was facing. I believe she saw something in
me that I never had. She held firm in her decision and provided me all of the
guidance and support I needed along the way. I had never been more proud of
myself than I
was at the end of the semester I spent
teaching some of the brightest, sincerest, hardest-working students I have ever
taught.
Dr. Pyne not only provided me with the
knowledge I needed to effectively teach my classes, but she also helped me
develop the self-confidence, strength and perseverance I needed to complete the
student-teaching requirement and continue a career in education. Without her constant
guidance, support, and wisdom, I would have given up on not only my students,
but on myself as well. Because of her, I reaped (and continue to reap)
priceless rewards as I learned the value of having a positive impact on the
lives of students. Without Dr. Pyne, I would not be the educational leader that
I am today.
Dr. Pyne is not only an asset to Elon
University, but to the teaching profession as well. Under her
guidance and direction, countless
adolescents will continue to be positively affected as she provides the highest
quality training and support to pre-service educators. Her impact is infinite.
Please accept my very, very highest recommendation of Dr. Pyne for tenure and
promotion to Associate Professor.
Sincerely,
Emily Buchanan
Assistant Principal
N. L. Dillard Middle SchoolWho was your mentor? Who impacted your future in ways you never imagined? Take time to thank them today.
