February 13, 2012

To Whom It May Concern :

It is my sincere pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Devon Barker. I have been fortunate enough to have Devon volunteer in my third grade class for the 2011-2012 school year. He has been a volunteer for my teaching partner for four years, and he has easily transitioned into the role of becoming our go-to person for anything we need for our classroom.

Throughout the year, Mr. Barker has impressed me with his natural ability to take on a multitude of responsibilities and complete them with a seamless attitude. No matter what the duty or the quantity, he goes beyond expectations each time. Not only does he perform tasks to the highest degree, he always responds to gratitude with, "Oh, it's my pleasure!"

I had a third grade student who needed a severe reading intervention. When I asked Devon if he could help me with the intervention, he enthusiastically was up for the challenge. He promptly thought of methods to teach strategies during reading while making it still seem informal. He noticed the student was relying on picture clues, so Devon would initially read the story with the student and then read the story a second time covering up the pictures, so Devon could assess the student's decoding strategies. The student continued to feel successful while Devon was helping teach and assess the student's reading .

Mr. Barker immediately takes initiative when he sees an issue that needs to be resolved. Whether it is an incident in the hallway, or a child who needs a smile, Devon knows the pathway to get the issue resolved .

Please do not miss this opportunity to have Mr. Barker as a member of your team. He will impress you with his interpersonal skills, knowledge of content, and passion for kids and learning. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at kasher@psdschools.org or 715.281.1334. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Kelsey Asher Third Grade Teacher Olander School for Project-Based Learning

Renée and Gary Circosta 3961 Saint Petersburg Street Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 997-4007 January 24, 2013 To Whom It May Concern: We wholeheartedly recommend Devon Barker for a teaching position. During the 2012-2013 school year, Devon was a co-teacher in our son Leo’s first-grade classroom at Horizons K-8 School in Boulder. Devon added so much to  the  children’s  learning  as  he quickly integrated into the teaching and seamlessly took on more independent responsibilities. He was a dynamic member of the classroom community, and we were thrilled to have him as a resource. Here are just a few highlights of what we learned about Devon and why we are so pleased to recommend him: Devon  participated  in  our  son’s  mid-year portfolio review (the school’s  version  of  a  progress  report,  in  lieu  of  grades).  We  were  impressed  with  how  Devon  guided  Leo’s  discussion  of  his  work,  with  focused  questions and a thoughtful compilation of documents Leo created in class. We appreciated Devon’s warm and straightforward tone; he helped Leo reflect on his own learning and recognize where he could improve. We found Devon extremely easy to work with as parent volunteers. Devon taught the children an extended study unit about Mexico, including The Day of the Dead (a Mexican holiday of remembrance). Our family has observed The Day of the Dead for a number of years and thus had resources to offer the class, including reference books, project ideas, and art supplies. Devon made good use of the materials we provided and he was respectfully clear in stating his needs and managing the project. In the end, the children produced some beautiful artwork, attended a museum exhibit on The Day of the Dead, and learned so much about Mexico. It was a well-organized and well-executed unit. Throughout the semester, we arrived early for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up so we could check in with the teachers. We found it easy and fruitful to talk to Devon. He consistently offered insightful comments that  showed  he  was  tuned  in  to  each  child’s  strengths  and  weaknesses. He was able to smooth over Leo’s  concerns (such as sharing a personal journal with the class) and he was willing to provide extra supervision when some of the boys were distracting one another during class. While Devon did not shy away from exerting control, he was also adept at giving kids the space to grow into their own style of learning and interacting with their peers. Like many young, energetic boys, our son can be a handful. While a great teacher can be a man or a woman, we believe that having a male role model in the classroom helps boys focus. Devon certainly connected with all of the students regardless of gender, but we saw him connect with the boys in a special and meaningful way. On several occasions, we overhead enthusiastic parents thanking Devon for getting their sons excited about school and learning. Leo certainly looked up to Devon and spoke fondly of him and his teaching style. On  Devon’s  last  day  in  class,  the  children  presented  him  with  a  collection  of  drawings and notes. They swarmed  over  him  and  requested  his  “autograph.”  They  did  not  want  to  let  him  leave!  That  reaction is a testament  to  Devon’s  effectiveness as a teacher and role model. We are very grateful that Devon was part of our  son’s  classroom, and we miss his energy and presence. The next class that gets him will be a lucky class indeed. Please contact us if you would like any more information. Renée and Gary Circosta

),?gnchcamp WINTER ADDRESS 350 South Dahlia Street Denver. Colorado 80246

Tel: (303) 316-6321 Fax: (303) 320-0042

SUMMER ADDRESS 21441 North Elbert Road Elbert. Colorado 80106

Tel: (303) 648-3800 Fax: (800) 630-8469

CONTACT. ranchcamp@jccdenver.org www.ranchcamp.org

February 2, 2012

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to write this reference letter for Devon Barker. Devon has been working at the summer camp I direct, JCC Ranch Camp located in Elbert, CO, every summer since 2009.

From the moment Devon joined our team, his caring personality shined. His ability to connect with campers is amazing. Although he has a natural ability to interact with youth, Devon devotes a great deal of time prior to and during the summer in learning about how to become a better youth development professional. Every year he surprises us with new innovative ideas to get his cabin groups to feel special and unique, and work as an effective team.

Additionally, Devon made a point to continue with one of our cabin groups for the last few years as their main counselor. These campers know that Devon will do whatever it takes to care for them. This coming summer Devon will lead this group of boys once again, but due to the nature of the program, this time "his boys" will have to be split between two different groups. I have already received several inquiries both from his campers and their parents letting me know that it is very important to them to be in Devon's group.

In addition to his ability to work with kids, Devon is also known among our staff to be one of the hardest working staff members. He is always ready to come up with a solution for whatever problem someone might face and as such, is very appreciated by everyone at camp. Devon has a very strong work ethic and he does very well with other staff members who put their heart into the work in the same way he does. He is a caregiver that does not stand for anything less than 100% effort from his colleagues.

Every year since 2009 Devon has been in touch with us during the "off-season" (September-April) and helps us with various projects and matters. He is surely my "go-to-guy".

I would hire Devon to work with me any day and I am gladly recommending him for your program. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have further questions. You may email me at gilads@jccdenver.org or call at (303) 887-0585.

Best regards,

GtlcJ. Gilad Shwartz JCC Ranch Camp, Co-Director

Ellen Goering, Educational Consultant 1 850 Folsom #907

To Whom It May Concern:

Boulder, CO 80302 EGoerjng@aol.com January 19, 2012

Although I have not had the opportunity to work directly with Devon Barker, I have followed his work with children in summer camps and through volunteering in schools over a period of years. He brings vision, dedication and enthusiasm to the experience of working with students.

Devon Barker also brings exceptional energy and outstanding skills in technology to offer to a school setting. For nearly a decade, he has been involved with a program called FIRST, For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. He has been a Robotics coach for several years, encouraging other students to explore and expand their knowledge of science and technology.

Devon is completing his coursework at the University of Northern Colorado in the spring of 201 2 with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Teaching and with an emphasis in Language Arts and a minor in Reading. He would like to student teach in the fall of 2012 in the Boulder Valley School District in order to broaden his base of experience. He has volunteered and completed coursework in Greeley, Fort Collins, and the St. Vrain School District.

I believe that Devon Barker would bring a strong understanding of working with students and teachers in any educational setting. In addition, he brings the energy to volunteer through leading clubs and after school opportunities for students. He is creative - an idea person - able to follow through and make ideas happen. In college, Devon organized a variety of successful fundraisers and events. He is an independent thinker who can organize and bring a team together to accomplish worthy goals.

Please consider Devon Barker for a student teaching position in BVSD. He would like to be at Eldorado K-8. The school where he teaches will be enriched by his energy, his gifts, his dedication and insight, and his natural ability to work with students of all ages.

Sincerely,

Ellen Goering

ALTONA MIDDLE SCHOOL

To Whom It May Concern:

4600 CLOVER BASIN ROAD LONGMONT,COLORAD080503

720-494-3980

January 1, 2012

It is with confidence and assurance that I personally recommend Devon Barker for your school organization. Devon was a student in my eighth grade math class and has since been volunteering in my classroom for the past ten years. I find Devon to consistently exhibit his eagerness for teaching, demonstrate his skill for organization, and embark upon creative lessons with the utmost dedication and enthusiasm

Besides being a joy to work with, Devon is an impelled and motivated person who initiates projects and lessons while in the classroom. During his years as an aide, I have witnessed his growth from a curious and energetic teen, to a young student thirsting for knowledge, and ultimately to a well-informed, pre-service teacher. Moreover, Devon is one of the most selfless individuals that I know. As a middle and high school student, he demonstrated this readiness to give by endlessly volunteering in the school lunch lines in addition to being involved in numerous extracurricular activities. As a college student, Devon has graciously given his time to my classroom during all of his winter and spring breaks, helping with tutoring, grading, and coaching. It is here that I have really gotten to know Devon as an educator. Furthermore, Devon contributes academic enrichment to my classroom lessons with his own probing questions, and does not accept mediocrity from student attainment.

In addition to being a conscientious and energetic assistant in my math classroom, Devon assumes an individual role in the students' successes by offering his personal time and dedication to assist one-on-one during the school day as well as offering tutoring outside of school hours. I would enthusiastically recommend Devon for employment. He is a leader and would make a great asset to any school organization.

Linda Goertz 81h Grade Math Altona M.S., Longmont, CO

Joseph Mehsling Principal

Jake Leyba Assistant Principal

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