June 8, 2016
To the DeCTFL TOY Committee:
As a teacher at John Dickinson High School, I have had the privilege of working with Jennifer Short for the past seventeen years. During that time, I have found her to be a dedicated teacher and a role model for both students and colleagues.
As Chair of the Foreign Language Department, I can attest to Jennifer’s dedication and enthusiasm as a Spanish teacher. Her passion for Spanish culture and language is contagious; therefore, it is no surprise she is requested by students year after year. I have never seen a teacher work so hard to help each and every student achieve success. This year Jennifer had a student who was recommended to the Meadowood Program but whose parents refused. This student was extremely low functioning. A lot of teachers would have just either passed him along or set him aside. Jennifer, however, worked diligently with the Special Education services to create a special curriculum for this student. She spent countless hours during her planning period and after school creating activities and instructional needs to help him achieve success.
Jennifer continuously strives to bring new ideas into the classroom. She attends the ACTFL Convention or NECTFL Convention every year looking for new and engaging activities she can share with her students. She also is the Schoology Champion and makes sure to use creative use of technology to bring real-life, authentic tasks to the classroom. She created a Blended Learning Unit for Spanish level 1 students so that the entire District of Red Clay could benefit from her expertise.
Jennifer spends many hours of her own time helping all Spanish students not just her own. She can be found after school, sometimes 7:00 p.m., tutoring students and creating engaging lessons. They always feel comfortable staying with her and trusting her to help them improve. I often ask her what her secret is to getting students to stay after for help because mine never show. I believe this shows how much she truly cares about her students’ success in Spanish as well as in life.
Since Jennifer is committed to the study of foreign languages, as well as improving public education in Delaware, she volunteered to be on the District’s committee for revising Delaware’s Curriculum for Foreign Languages. She has helped lead District in-service days for World Languages, passing on her knowledge and expertise to others. Jennifer makes every effort to continue making improvements in her own teaching and the teaching of others.
Jennifer Short exemplifies commitment to her students and the profession of teaching, as seen in her consistent efforts. I consider myself lucky to have Jennifer as a teacher in the World Language Department and as a positive role model for everyone at John Dickinson.
Sincerely,
Gina M. Travalini-Rubini