Andrews Middle School

Administrative Office

3000 Mystic Valley Parkway

Medford, MA 02155

P: 781-393-2228 F: 781-395-8128

Paul D’Alleva Miriam Marotta

Principal Asst. Principal

Andrews Middle School in partnership with Hallmark Health “Excellence Through Responsibility and Respect”

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To Whom It May Concern:

I am pleased to write a letter of high recommendation for my mentor, colleague, and good friend Kathleen O’Donoghue as she

applies to become assistant principal at Shawsheen Technical and Vocational High School. I have known and worked closely

with Kathleen for four years, and she has proven to be an exception teacher, colleague, mentor, and school community member.

As a teacher of eighteen years holding licenses to teach history and English, Kathi shows great grasp of curriculum. In her

lessons, she not only teaches the frameworks, but goes beyond of what is required of her. Just last year, Kathi took part in the

Global Scholars project with our students. She exceeded all expectations with this program; for a culminating project for this

program, Kathi created a cross-curriculum unit on community gardens in which I and my entire team of teachers took part.

Students learned how to grow various plants, build an above ground gardening bed, and write letters of public environmental

concern to Mayor McGlynn and the Environmental Office at Medford City Hall. It was amazing to watch our students build and

garden on their own and enjoy themselves, while at the same time being immersed in career readiness projects. To this day,

students return to their garden daily to continue its up-keeping. Not only did students build career readiness skills, but they also

learned that their voices will be heard if they speak up. During the summer, a student received a return letter from Medford City

Hall agreeing to her concern about the lack of waste barrels along the Mystic River and granted $2,000.00 solar powered barrel to

have public waste barrels placed alongside the river. This project is a great example to show Kathi’s dedication to curriculum, her

students, her community, as well as her willingness to work cross curricular with her colleagues. The food grown at this garden

was donated to local food banks, homeless shelters, and senior centers showing our students the value of hard work and

community awareness while applying School to Career skills.

Kathi’s phenomenal work ethic is only part of what makes her a great candidate; her dedication to her district community is most

impressive. Kathi is the district wide tutor, tutoring students in multiple curricula. This requires Kathi to work collaboratively

with numerous educators throughout the duration of each student she tutors.

Just last year, Kathleen tutored a young 7th grade boy who was living with his mother in a homeless shelter. Kathi treated this

young boy and his mother as family. Other than tutoring, Kathi willingly offered food, money, furniture, a Christmas tree,

Christmas presents, and even the supplies for a traditional Christmas dinner for this family by reaching out to family, friends, and

the Medford community. Through this selfless act, Kathi proves her caring and giving character.

On a more personal level, Kathleen has been my acting mentor since my hire four years ago. Being the Medford Public Schools

Mentor Coordinator, Kathi is thoroughly experienced in this area. I consider myself extremely lucky and blessed to have a

mentor such as Kathi be there for me throughout my first years of teaching. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn't be half the teacher I

am today. As the adviser of the Andrews Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society, I put together a new application

process for the society two years ago and Kathi worked closely with me in creating this new application. Kathi continues to help

the NJHS by providing community service opportunities for the NJHS members, as well as the other students in the school.

Also, three years ago, Kathi and I worked together to create a new club in our school: the Homework Club. This club meets

once a week and provides students with computers, Internet access, a printer, and project supplies. This club is now run by the

NJHS members for which they take turns volunteering their time to tutor students in need of help in the school.

Over the four years I have known Kathi, I can confidently say she is one of the most respected, hardworking, professional, caring,

loyal, and trustworthy people I know. Because of these traits, there is no doubt that Kathleen O’Donoghue is the perfect match

for the position of vice principal at your school.

Sincerely,

Narineh Abrimian

7B ELA

Adviser of the NJHS