Your Whitworth supervisor
Your master/mentor teachers and Whitworth supervisor letters will automatically be written as part of your preparation program.
A third letter is mandatory. Many secondary teachers will have a recommendation from each of his/her endorsement areas of student teaching. Elementary teacher candidates will have only one master teacher.
For additional letters, ask. . .
the principal at the school where you student-taught;
a supervisor/master teacher from a field experience or multicultural experience;
a college professor who knows you well and can speak to your abilities for the classroom;
a camp-counselor supervisor who has observed your mastery of the skills and qualities you will need as a teacher.
For graduates who are updating, ask . . .
your current principal;
former principals;
your colleague(s);
district chair or co-member of a committee on which you have served.
Letters of recommendation can be written on school letterhead (recommended) or on the Whitworth online form. The online form can be sent via e-mail to certification@whitworth.edu. We will sign to verify that it was received electronically. It should be followed by a signed hard copy in the mail.
Three to five recommendations are the standard for a placement file, but you can have more if you desire.
How do I request a letter of recommendation?
A request for a letter of recommendation should be made in person or by a personal letter. Letters of recommendation can be written on school letterhead (recommended) or on the Whitworth online form. The online form can be sent via e-mail to certification@whitworth.edu. We will sign that it was received electronically. It should be followed by a signed hard copy in the mail. All recommendations should be typed, not handwritten. A stamped preaddressed envelope should be presented at the time of your request. Use our office address to have your letter sent directly to our office.
Educational Certification & Career Services
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA 99251
How do I have a placement file sent?
You have two options: You may order online with your credit card or e-check payment, or e-mail your request. Either way, provide any special instructions and let us know where to send your file. If the school district to which you want your file sent is out of state or if you're asking that the file be sent to a private school, please provide the address. Placement files will be sent within one business day of our receipt of your request.
What is the fee for sending a placement file?
The charge for setting up the placement file is $25. This $25 covers the first five mailings. Thereafter, the charge is $4 each time the placement file is sent including faxing the file. No formal billing will be sent. Payment can be made by check payable to Whitworth and sent to our office.
Educational Certification & Career Services
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA 99251
How do I update my placement file?
Open your saved placement file documents, make sure that all information is current and accurate, change the date, and send via e-mail as an attachment to certification@whitworth.edu. We will print a copy to update your placement file, but we cannot save the electronic copy. It is your responsibility to maintain a copy for future updating.
If you can't find or open your saved placement file documents then go to our Download Placement Files, and recreate a new set of placement file documents. Remember to save them both to your computer and to a back up storage device. When completed, send via e-mail as an attachment to certification@whitworth.edu
You may want to also request at least one or more new letters of recommendation to add to your file. Be sure to provide a stamped preaddressed envelope for the writers' convenience. Use our office address:
Educational Certification & Career Services
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA 99251
