Teacher Candidates: Sending letters of recommendation
Nearly all announcements for teacher job openings request at least three letters of recommendation.
1. Your Own Copies
The easiest way for many is to get three letters and make copies of them as needed. Then copies are sent with your resume, application and transcript. All letters sent by the candidates themselves are regarded as non-confidential letters. (Confidential letters cannot, at any time, be viewed by the applicant.)
The letters need to be on school or school district letterhead or on forms provided by Career Services. They must have the writer's signatures, titles and contact information (phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses). We strongly suggest that you send only the three letters requested and never more than four, unless requested otherwise.
Two of your letters of recommendation should come from:
- Your on-site supervising teacher from your full-time student teaching experience.
- Your college supervisor of your full-time student teaching experience.
Other good letters of recommendation:
- A building principal or vice-principal who has seen you teach.
- Your on-site supervising teacher from your part-time student teaching experience.
- Teachers for whom you have served as a classroom aide.
- Head coaches for whom you have coached, if you are applying for a position that includes coaching.
- A professor who can write of your academic qualifications for the subject (this applies to candidates for secondary positions).
- A professional who has supervised you in some capacity where you have worked with children such as Kids on the Block or a summer camp.
2. Teacher Placement Files
The primary purpose of a placement file is to house your letters of recommendation. While they used to be indispensable, they are no longer prerequisites to obtaining teaching positions.
Please contact Anne Hardin-Ballard at ahardin@linfield.edu or come to the Office of Career Services if you have questions about Teacher Placement Files.