Letter to Prospective Teacher

Dear Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a teacher in our school. As you know, our school district is faced with some significant challenges in responding to the needs of students in the 21st century marketplace, but we are proud of our school’s achievements in recent years in these areas. Some of the components of the positive student-centered school culture that we promote include teacher accountability, individualized instruction wherever possible and an environment that is conducive to learning. Of course, all members of the school district share in promoting this culture, but the process begins at the top and it is the responsibility of educational leaders at all levels – including classroom teachers – to contribute to this student-centered school culture.
To this end, some of the functions, activities and leadership behaviors that shape our school’s culture include providing young learners with a “transformative intellectual experience” because when we put students front and center, remarkable things happen” (Chan & Main, 2012, p. 76). In addition, we have implemented uniform school policies concerning grading, assessment, tutoring and communications with parents, all of which place the interests of our students foremost (McLester, 2012). Moreover, we encourage all of our parents to actively participate in their children’s education, including invitations to school events, attendance at meetings of our outstanding parent-teacher association and our field trips to local sites of interest.
Likewise, we strive to consistently communicate to our students that their education is vitally important but that they are responsible for taking maximum advantage of this opportunity in their lives to acquire the knowledge and tools they will need to succeed in higher education and professional careers. Finally, it is essential for educational leaders to “model the way” for their students and peers alike. In other words, it is far more effective to tell others to, “Follow me!” than it is to tell them to “Charge!” By serving as role models for our students and other teachers, we can set a high learning standard where expectations are known and the coursework is challenging but appropriate.
While circumstances change depending on students’ unique needs and the exigencies of the day, some ways that these functions, activities and leadership behaviors can be executed to support the school’s mission and vision to provide the best quality education for our students possible to prepare them for the rigors of later life include taking the initiative to address learning gaps and opportunities to improve curricular offerings. In addition, educational leaders must assume a leadership role in implement best evidence-based practices in the classroom that are reflective of our student-centered culture. By keeping your “eye on the prize,” you can make a real difference at our school or others where dedicated and qualified teachers are in great demand.
Thank you again for your interest in our school. Please let me know if you have any questions that were not addressed herein or if I can be of any further assistance to you as you start out on a rewarding career in education.
Best regards,

Cynthia A. Principal

References
Chan, M. & Main, E. (2012, October-December). The transformative educational experience: A new building paradigm for higher education campuses. Planning for Higher Education, 41(1), 75-79.
McLester, S. (2012, September). Rick & Becky Dufour: Professional learning communities at work. District Administration, 48(8), 61-65.