To Whom It May Concern: I am privileged to write in support of an outstanding teacher, Lindsey Bruno. Lindsey started her teaching career as the Choral Director at North Stafford High School in 2005. I was able to observe not only her exceptional teaching skills, but her organizational skills starting with her first year of teaching. I had the opportunity to work closely with her as she started the first Choral Booster Club at North Stafford High School. Once a month we met as a group. I was very impressed with her leadership, strong work ethic and intellectual integrity. As a Department Head at Woodbridge High School, I have had the opportunity to interview and work with several first year teachers. Normally a new teacher will require a lot of guidance and a mentor to develop their teaching skills. Lindsey was not a typical "new teacher" from the first month of her teaching career. She had a goal and a plan to improve the choral program from the beginning. She was self motivated and self confident as she began sharing her love of music with the students. They have obviously responded to her wonderful teaching skills by continuing to improve on awards each year. During her first year teaching, she had 85 students in her choirs. Under her leadership, the choir has grown to 150. She now has 3 after school assembles. She now has a Music Theory class and an Advanced Placement Music Theory class as well. North Stafford led the county in All District selection this year with 44 students. During the 2009-2010 school year, 42 students received the All District selection as well as 7 All State recipients. Four students received the honor of the All Virginia Honors choir, while all the choirs received Superior ratings last year. The past two years the choirs have also received the Blue Ribbon award. Lindsey has also volunteered hundreds of hours for the musicals at North Stafford High School. She not only worked by tutoring the singers, but she was the conductor of the Orchestra for Beauty and The Beast, 42nd Street and Fame, to mention only a few of the plays. Her dedication was apparent when she worked during her maternity leave to help the play be successful. She has continued to demonstrate her devotion and enthusiasm by researching and organizing choir trips to Chicago, Disney World in Florida, New York City and Myrtle Beach, S.C. I always felt very comfortable sending my daughter on a choir trip under her supervision. Lindsey has worked very hard to showcase her choirs. She planned and executed a jazz dinner concert this year. Dinner was served and a wonderful performance was intertwined throughout the evening. Lindsey was the mastermind for the entire show. She contacted a restaurant to donate food, scheduled the choirs to alternate serving, and conducted all the performances.
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My oldest daughter has always loved music and performing. Under the tutelage of Lindsey, she came to appreciate and love music even more, if that is possible. She has continued her love of music in college by leading a choir and participating in two different praise bands. My youngest daughter has always been shy and afraid to sing in front of a group or in front of her own family. Lindsey has been such a positive influence on my youngest. After working with her for 3 years, she will now sing in front of a group, or at home in front of the family. That major development has occurred since Lindsey became her instructor. I have watched Lindsey through her first years of teaching, seen her get married, have a baby, take on more students in her choirs, help with ensembles and musicals after school, and add new and challenging classes to the curriculum. Through all of this, she has remained a confident and organized teacher and a loving and helpful person. Lindsey is the type of teacher that gives her students confidence in themselves and inspires them to do bigger and better things. Sincerely, Dawn F. Jones Dawn F. Jones
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