Timber  Ridge  Elementary  7370  NW  54th  Ave.  Johnston,  Iowa      50131  (515)  331-­‐4379    ______________________________________________________________________________    January  3,  2016    To  Whom  It  May  Concern,    I  worked  with  Sami  Richmond  at  Timber  Ridge  Elementary  where  she  served  as  a  special  education  associate.    Sami  is  a  dedicated  and  caring  professional.      She  is  supportive  to  her  colleagues  and  is  a  team  player.    She  was  committed  to  her  job  and  focused  on  learning  while  working  with  special  education  students  and  classroom  teachers.          While  we  worked  together,  Sami  showed  she  has  the  ability  to  work  with  students  with  multiple  needs.    She  was  flexible  enough  to  respond  to  a  students  with  behavioral,  emotional  and  mental  health  issues  as  well  as  students  on  the  autism  spectrum.    She  was  willing  to  incorporate  new  ideas  while  working  with  students.    Sami  responded  to  the  student’s  needs  by  trying  new  strategies  based  on  their  interests,  instructional  needs  and  recommendations  from  teachers  and  AEA  staff.        Sami  had  a  strong  relationship  with  classroom  teachers,  administration,  AEA  staff,  and  other  associates  she  worked  with  illustrating  her  ability  to  develop  strong  relationships  and  collaborate.    Without  strong  relationships,  the  students  she  worked  with  would  not  have  made  growth  within  the  general  education  classrooms.              Sincerely,          Barb  Knutson  Special  Education  Teacher  Timber  Ridge  Elementary  Johnston  School  District    (515)  238-­‐1055