To Whom It May Concern s1

To Whom It May Concern:

This recommendation is to affirm my support of Dr. Patti McWhorter’s 21st Century Model Classroom application. I am aware that Dr. McWhorter is planning to use the hardware and software requested to pilot the use of electronic portfolios in her classroom. This pilot will greatly inform the implementation of electronic portfolios in the language arts classrooms, 9-12, in the Clarke County School District.

Dr. McWhorter, as English department chair, has had experience in the use of technology in the classroom. The English department, under her leadership, was one of the first to pilot the use of laptops with our students. In addition, she personally volunteered to use one of the first Smart Boards in her instruction.

As journalism adviser, Dr. McWhorter must be constantly abreast of available technology in desktop publishing. For many years, Dr. McWhorter used technology in this program that she had to fund through her own resourcefulness, prior to the district commitment to the use of technology in the classroom.

I know Dr. McWhorter will be willing to share any knowledge gleaned in this project with her school and district colleagues. Please give her application serious consideration.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tommy Craft Principal, Cedar Shoals High School Cedar Shoals Library Media Center DATE: September 29, 2005§ Ginger Jewell Educational Technology Services Re: 21st century grant

Dear Ginger:

Please consider providing Dr. McWhorter with one of the electronic white boards and laptops. She has always been interested in integrating new technology into her classroom and could use these to enhance student learning. I know that she has been working to create electronic portfolios for her students and hopes one day to make electronic portfolios a big part of English assessment at Cedar Shoals. Sincerely, Kerry Hogan Library-Media Specialist Cedar Shoals High School

______To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Dr. McWhorter for this grant. Her use of Technology in the classroom is superb. I have been in her class (either Journalism or AP English) for the past two years, during this time she has constantly used technology to not only further our instruction, but also to open new doors for students like me. In English class Dr. McWhorter uses the Smart Board on a daily basis and we often do class assignments using the laptop carts. While I have found all of that very useful, it is the technology that I have been exposed to in Journalism that is most impressive. Since I’ve taken journalism, I’ve learned to use many software programs, Photoshop, InDesign, Final Cut Pro, to name a few, and become proficient in the use of Digital and Film Cameras. I was even able to get a job in a print shop this year; my experience in Journalism made it possible. Dr. McWhorter is one of the few teachers that are not afraid to try out new technologies in her classroom, and I am glad that I have been able to gain valuable skills because of her fearlessness.

Sincerely-

Edward Kuhn