SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

610 E. UNIVERSITY AVE., ROOM 1228

ANN ARBOR, MI 48109
734.417.6806
mariajc@umich.edu









Maria J. Coolican, Ph.D.
Educational Studies








1 June 2014

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great pleasure that I enthusiastically recommend to you Ms. Danielle
Capitan. I have known and worked with Danielle since she was admitted to
our teacher education program two years ago. She was my advisee in the
world languages teacher certification cohort at The University of Michigan, and
I had the distinct pleasure of having had Danielle as a student in three
courses.

Danielle is a wonderfully unique type of student to have in class. She is
literally like a sponge as she soaks in the new material and ideas, yet she
approaches her work with a critical lens that one does not often see in a new
teacher. She pushes back at theories that seem to her inappropriate, yet is
always willing to experiment and design lessons that are creative and intriguing
for her students. As a student teacher, Danielle excelled as a teacher who truly
understood how to use technology to support and extend student learning.
Her use of technology was so advanced that other teachers in the building
began to look to her as a leader who could help them think about ways to use
similar technology in their own classrooms.

Danielle is also an exceptionally well-planned teacher. Her lessons are replete
with all of the usual elementsobjective, standards, activities and
assessmentbut they also are characterized by deeply thought out extension
activities and what we call back pocket activities to take into account both
individualization of instruction as well as managing the various interruptions
that can occur in the classroom due to things like fire drills and alternative bell
schedules.

Danielle will be a true gift to her colleagues in whatever school is fortunate
enough to hire her. She will be open, generous of heart and spirit, and will give
of her experiences, skills and talents. She will work ceaselessly to ensure that
she brings daily value, affirmation and high expectations to all of that she does,
and will be the type of model that we wish all of our young people could be.
Danielle will truly be the change we wish to see in the world and will work
tirelessly every day to bring the best of both her heart and intellect to her work.

Sincerely,



Maria J. Coolican, Ph.D.
Lead Faculty, World Languages Teacher Education