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Reference letters but...

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Screaming Silence
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03 May 2025, 5:00 pm

Howdy everyone. I'm applying for teaching credentials plus a MAT. I need three references that arent friends or family. The reason I'm leaving my current career is because they keep giving me excuses why they won't promote me (might not be the best reference about strengths vs weaknesses.) Thought about reaching out to old teachers (class of 2020) but not sure they would remember me.

Any suggestions? Apps are due in a couple of weeks.



funeralxempire
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03 May 2025, 5:25 pm

What do the references need to say?


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Participant626
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03 May 2025, 6:32 pm

They'd probably look up your grades and assignments to try to remember who you are. If anything, it wouldn't hurt to ask. They can just say no or not respond.


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Screaming Silence
Butterfly
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04 May 2025, 2:04 am

funeralxempire wrote:
What do the references need to say?

No idea. Guess it needs to reflect my work



SocOfAutism
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08 Aug 2025, 10:56 am

How did this resolve?

References are not always checked. You could also use a former colleague or former student for a reference. If I were checking, I would optimally want references from a former boss, a peer, and a former student.

The kinds of things a reference for a teacher would be expected to talk about might be:

-How well did the teacher interact with students? Was the teacher approachable and have a good attitude toward learning?
-Did the teacher plan their own lessons or deliver premade ones?
-Were there any complaints about the teacher from students? (this is not a deal breaker, but it would give you an idea of the person's character)
-Was the teacher dependable? Did they show up consistently for work?