When I found out that I wasn’t going to be teaching in Peabody next year, one of my favorite students (yeah, I know, we’re not supposed to have favorites) asked if there was anything she could do. Knowing that this student is an exceptional writer, I asked her if she would write a recommendation for me, from a student’s perspective.
I received the recommendation in my email today.
To whom it may concern:
From not only a very personal point of view, but also from the
perspective of “the masses”, Mr. Jeff Bigler is the ultimate teacher.
In my eleven years of formal education, I have never encountered such an
enthusiastic, brilliant mind, capable of not only reaching the highest
intellectual caliber, but also of engaging the more academically
challenged. Mr. Bigler is vivacious in his instruction and witty in his
rare lack thereof. Enrolling in AP Chemistry as a junior, I signed up
for the class expecting the worst, having all honors, but no Advanced
Placement, background. From the very onset of learning, Mr. Bigler
hushed my fears without quieting any ambition — the class was presented
as do-able, but all the while requiring appropriate effort and
attention. The material was presented in a mix of hands-on and
discussion based learning, effectively reaching individual learners.
Mr. Bigler got to know his students personally in a way that made him
approachable, fair, and above all, human. Despite his clear genius, his
students recognized him as a person, and therefore respected him more
than most.Mr. Bigler not only masters the actual material of the curriculum, he
handles the multiple and often contradictory personalities within the
classroom with ease. Throughout the year, students have posed
challenges in the form of literal learning quandaries coupled with the
minute yet unfailingly important details of social interaction. And
just as unfailingly, Mr. Bigler has adeptly fielded the issues with
professional and realistic answers. His devotion to his craft shines
through regularly, and students can only benefit from his commitment.I would like to wrap up my student recommendation with one thought. I
have never had a teacher like Mr. Bigler, and I predict that I will not
encounter such a soul again. In the years to come, it serves as a
testament to his talent that I will not only remember Boyle’s law, but I
will look up to an admire the devotion exemplified by Mr. Bigler. His
classroom is unique and enjoyable, even when higher level chemistry
proves to be not so much fun. Given the option, I would have Mr. Bigler
teach everything. Unfortunately, I’m told that that is quite strenuous
and would require an extremely large plan book. So, I hope to leave you
with the thoughts of Mr. Bigler’s excellence in teaching.Sincerely,
D.
