Jacob J. Weaver
Jacob Weaver discovered his passion for mentoring, service learning, teaching, coaching, and motivational speaking at a very young age after losing his eye to a random and senseless drive-by shooting. As a result, he started a mentoring and leadership development program and was honored by having two annual awards named after him for courage and inspiration. He has a significant amount of experience teaching and advising diverse students from all over the world, planning and managing programs and events, designing and implementing curriculums and strategic plans, developing and maintaining websites, creating videos and marketing materials as well as leading departments and initiatives in urban, suburban, rural, and international settings.
Weaver currently serves as the Director of Institutional Advancement and Experiential Learning at Roosevelt International Academy where he manages the strategic plan and leads several initiatives such as Global Engagement, International Diversity, Advanced Certificate and Applied Learning Opportunities, Staff and Faculty Professional Development, Service Learning, Leadership Development, and Career Exploration. He is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University and received his Master's Degree in Education Administration from Providence College where he also served as the Multicultural Activities Graduate Assistant. While completing his master's he served as an instructor and mentor for CCF (Connecting for Children and Families) and ELO (Expanded Learning Opportunities) at Woonsocket High School. He also received a fellowship from College Leadership Rhode Island (CLRI) and a scholarship to travel to Bangladesh for a service learning project with the Ministry of Education and BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) which you can view on the videos page. He also played an important role in developing and coordinating the first Annual Rhode Island Collegiate Conference for Values Based Leadership where he co-presented a workshop titled, "Mastering Cultural Agility for Effective Leadership".
Prior to working in Rhode Island, Mr. Weaver served as a teacher, coach, after school director, and grant writer in the Enlarged City School District of Troy, coach and mentor at Christian Brothers Academy, Founder and Director of Project Inspire as well as a teacher leader, coach, and guidance counselor at K.I.P.P. Tech Valley Charter School in Albany, NY. Weaver graduated Cum Laude from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Science in Education and is a certified Water Safety Instructor with CPR/AED, First Aid and FEMA Crisis Response/Management. During his undergraduate years he served as the Event Coordinator and Vice President of the largest student organization on campus, Leadership Instructor/Facilitator of the Annual Raquette Lake Leadership Retreat, Kinesiology Research Presenter at regional, state, and national conferences as well as the Founder, Coach and President of the Men's Club Basketball Team. Jacob has spent the majority of his free time over the past several years mentoring and leading outdoor education retreats as well as traveling and researching schools in several cities throughout Australia, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Holland.
Letters of Recommendation
Biography
To Whom It May Concern:
I am pleased to write this recommendation letter on behalf of Mr. Jacob Weaver for the position of Assistant Director of Engaged Scholarship at Brown University. As I reviewed the job description, I frankly could not imagine a person more qualified than Mr. Weaver. He has the skills, experience, mindset, and ability to design and implement effective cross-curricular programs, to support the development of students’ in multiple disciplines and contexts, and to assist in advancing the strategic goals of the Engaged Scholars Program. He has the unique ability to bridge individuals and groups together to achieve the greater good and facilitate the engagement of differences in a manner that allows students to learn from the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and traditions. After only three years in Providence, he has established and cultivated valuable relationships with leaders across the city and state.
He embodies an entrepreneurial spirit that is exhibited in his ability to network and find resources to create out-of-class learning opportunities. He did this skillfully as he planned, facilitated, and located resources for the first annual MLK Day of Service and Multicultural Leadership Program. He recruited student, staff, and faculty volunteers from Providence College and solicited donations to renovate an elementary school auditorium, gymnasium, and cafeteria followed by educational performances from a wide variety of cultural music and dance groups. In addition, all of the programs and events that Jacob Weaver led while serving as a graduate assistant brought positive publicitiy to Providence College which earned him respect from the President’s Cabinet and several executive administrators. Over and again, he goes beyond what is expected because of his commitment to excellence and his intrinsic motivation to support and care for others.
I can confidently say this as I was his supervisor when he worked as a graduate assistant in the Student Multicultural Activities (SMA) office at Providence College. Day in and day out I observed and directed his work in the office and for the student groups that fall under SMA. From the moment Mr. Weaver stepped on campus, he took initiative to learn, ask questions and take lead as needed. We had to prepare for several training sessions and a retreat for students as well as programs at the start of the semester. He diligently followed through on tasks as well as contributed his own ideas and expertise. Even though he was expected to work twenty hours a week, he worked as many hours as needed to get the job done. More than that, he consistently attended programs and events outside of his job description to build trust and positive relationships with students.
Due to his open attitude, he is able to connect with people of all backgrounds. He is “culturally agile” in that he is willing to explore his own biases, consider and reflect on the perspectives of those who differ from him, listen and respond respectfully and takes initiative to learn from and about others. An example of this is how he applied for and received a scholarship to travel and serve in Bangladesh in 2013. I recall our conversations about his trip and how he described with awe and appreciation for what he learned from the people he met and interacted with. It was no surprise to hear of how he wanted to make his way back and do more to serve the people of that nation.
When it comes to relating to students, he takes time to hear their stories while sharing his own life experiences. Particularly, students of color and international students came to trust him and valued his presence and support at their events. He also worked closely with professors, community organizations, academic departments, and other offices on campus to offer unique learning opportunities in multiple disciplines.
In sum, Mr. Weaver through his dedication to his vocation as an educator and to students of all backgrounds contributes to the college’s commitment to integrate teaching, research and practice as well as to develop student leadership and cultural agility. All of this is framed by his character and integrity to give his fullest attention and energy to the work at hand. He is resourceful, responsible, dedicated, and organized. In each context whether it was organizing an event or program, presenting at a conference, or meeting with a student, he gave his all and exceeded the expectations of myself and all of the other directors and VP’s that he worked under.
I am confident that he will be a great asset to Brown University and the Swearer Center for Public Service as the Assistant Director of Engaged Scholarship. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.
Sincerely,
Elena Yee
Providence, RI
805-455-6615
Dr. Betty A. Calise
4oo Ferry Landing Circle
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 864-7271
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to endorse the candidacy of Jacob Weaver for the position he seeks at your institution. As his Professor and Internship Supervisor at Providence College, I had the opportunity to work with Jacob during his internships and course work. For these reasons, I feel qualified to comment on his professional ability for this position.
As a graduate student, Jacob participated in class and shared his knowledge with his graduate colleagues. He developed an excellent rapport with his fellow classmates. As Jacob’s Internship Supervisor, I had numerous opportunities to directly observe his work at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School and the Roosevelt International Academy.
His Internship Projects focused on matters that align very well with the job description for Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. For example; his ability to start and develop new programs that involved community members and organizations such as; leading service learning projects and creative fundraisers, providing tutoring and mentoring for students, as well as designing and presenting initiatives and solutions to staff members at Vartan Elementary School. At the Roosevelt Academy, he was involved in strategic planning, mentoring students, creating the cross-curricular service learning program, designing and leading orientations, and mediating situations with resident students. These projects are just to name a few of his many accomplishments during his Internships. Jacob’s project results were successful and exemplary. In addition to being insightful, knowledgeable, and visionary, he is a team player and a problem solver. His colleagues and supervisors were all very impressed with Jacob’s ability to create positive change, and they came to trust him and buy in to his vision in a very short time. His leadership strength is evident in his broad based academic and professional experiences and his strong commitment to community and educational excellence.
Jacob has proven to be a professional who is highly competent and is capable of managing diverse roles. He exhibits excellent organizational and leadership skills. I believe Jacob Weaver exhibits all the requisite qualifications to succeed at your institution. It is for these reasons, that I endorse his candidacy for the position. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Betty A. Calise, Ed.D
Providence College, Adjunct Professor/Graduate Intern Supervisor
Education Consultant
Retired Assistant Superintendent, Barrington Public Schools
November 5, 2014
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter in the capacity of Adjunct Professor in the School of Professional Studies at Providence College and Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Scituate School Department for Jacob Weaver.
I have known Jacob’s work to be of outstanding caliber. He fulfilled each of the requirements for my EDU-512, School Community Relations course over and above of what was asked. One of Jacob’s unique qualities are his various life experiences at such a young age. I feel these experiences, along with his course of study at SUNY Cortland and Providence College have molded him into a unique and dynamic educator. As such, he often added meaningful discussion points based on current research each week in our talks in class. In thinking about his work quality, I have nothing but praise for the work Jacob has produced for me in my class.
Jacob has a very positive outlook, which he models to all those around him, especially his classmates. His dynamic personality along with his real-world experiences in cultural education make him a strong candidate for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. I have seen Jacob have a strong work Ethic and can attest to his ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently. There is no question that Jacob can handle the amount of work involved in a director level position at Providence College.
I recommend Jacob without any reservation. Please contact me at 401-647-4100 or 401-639-6023 (mobile) if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Lawrence P. Filippelli, Ed.D.
November 10, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
I am delighted to write a letter of recommendation for Jacob Weaver. I have worked for Catholic schools for almost 30 years, and as a principal I can see that Jacob has the qualities to be a wonderful school administrator and leader.
Jacob and I became acquainted last year as we worked on a project at my current school, Seton Academy. In his capacity in the Multicultural Office at Providence College, Jacob was the lead person that made a wonderful Martin Luther King Day project a reality at Seton. He organized a team of college students who worked collaboratively with our middle school students to renovate and make-over our multi-purpose room. Not only did he secure donations of all the necessary materials, but he led the actual work from start to finish. This included a luncheon for the PC and Seton students, where the younger students had a chance to chat with their college counterparts about what it takes to get to college and succeed in a new environment. This was an incredible opportunity, as most of my students are first generation and will be the first in their families to go to college.
That evening, we had a wonderful multi-cultural performance, again organized by Jacob. His leadership skills and organizational abilities were clear throughout. He established a wonderful rapport with our middle school students quite easily, something that not everyone is able to achieve.
I also know that Jacob will be a wonderful spiritual leader at Providence College. We had many conversations about the need for Catholic education, and the importance of sharing one's faith with the next generation. I recall the beautiful prayer that began our MLK day, yet another thing that Jacob thoughtfully took care of.
I have worked at the central office level, and in that capacity have supervised many educational leaders. Jacob possesses the energy, commitment, people skills and organizational skills to be an amazing addition to your staff. If I can provide any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Doreen Engel, Principal
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy
909 Lonsdale Ave.
Central Falls, RI, 02863
401-728-6230
November 7th, 2014
To whom it may concern,
It is my pleasure to give a personal character reference in regards to Jacob Weaver. In the time that I have known him, he has demonstrated to me that he lives a life of example and is a man of integrity. Initially, I met Jacob while I hosted a student from China who had a twin brother at Roosevelt International Academy (RIA). Since then we have collaborated on a project for Love146 which is a non-profit organization dedicated to abolishing human trafficking. Throughout the international work that Love146 does to abolish child sex trafficking, Jacob has been an outstanding support. Not only in raising awareness, but in raising funds and giving of his own. I personally appreciate and have seen the effort he has put in. He also plans on visiting and helping at the 'round home' in the Philippines, along with other locations in Asia. Jacob is the type of person who would much rather travel and spend his money to help people need than go on vacation.
Jacob was someone I knew that I could rely on from day one, and he is very skilled at identifying, preventing, and solving problems. During the annual RIA ski trip, Jacob was responsible for several international students and the manner in which he interacted was most certainly above and beyond his job descriptions. Throughout the day, the students were assisted on the slopes by him with such patience and kindness despite the language and cultural barriers that would have frustrated most people. I was sincerely taken back, not only at his role in their lives but how much the students trusted and respected him. I feel it's likely due to the respect he gives to them. In all the settings that I have been with Jacob, he treats others with a sense of dignity. In one instance, I recall him initiating a conversation with a disheveled man sitting on a sidewalk. I remember glancing over and the man he was speaking to who had been hunched over was looking up with amazement that he was being addressed with sincerity. I would not be surprised if the time that Jacob took to engage this man gave him a glimpse of hope.
When I think of Jacob, I can say with no hesitation that he is a man of character who lives a life of love and generous spirit. While he has many leadership qualities, his humility allows for his gentle approach. I recently told Jacob about a horrific fire that killed a woman's son here on Cape Cod and he immediately offered to help. Jacob was the first person to volunteer his time to not only paint and sand floors, but to mentor the oldest son, and to invest in the lives that are broken at this time. He does not shy away from tragedy, he lends a hand towards it. Jacob has endured adversity and yet his response to life would hardly allow you to know that. The potency of his forgiveness, and his choice to exercise that is one of a kind. He is most definitely qualified for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life and between his work ethic and the heart that he has, he will be an asset to Providence College. I have been a well traveled staff nurse for Kindred Healthcare for over ten years and have had the opportunity to meet many people from all walks of life. I am grateful to know Jacob Weaver, and I am very confident that you will not regret hiring him for this position. Please do not hesitate to call or write with any questions. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Macarena Smith
206 Old Mill Road
Osterville, Ma. 02655
508-360-1195
November, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
As Director of Operations and Residential Life at the Roosevelt International Academy, I have been associated with Mr. Weaver, in his role as the Administrative Director of our Cross-Curricular Service Learning Program and Residential Life Coordinator before he was promoted into his Institutional Advancement role. In that capacity, I supervised his work during the 2013-2014 academic year, and I must say that Mr. Weaver is highly regarded by the staff, our partner schools and partner organizations (many of which he developed), and most importantly, his students.
He has an excellent work ethic, always arriving early and staying late to ensure that his mission for the next day is in place. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Mr. Weaver, as do his other colleagues, because of his positive “can do” attitude. He has masterfully administered the school’s service learning program and skillfully organizes technology to facilitate a seamless and efficient process to document student progress. On a personal note, Mr. Weaver is personable, hardworking and focused on the tasks at hand. He is thoroughly prepared each day to lead the students toward maximizing learning opportunities for themselves and others.
He is essentially every student’s hero and role model for his caring attitude and smile each day. In my view, I have not worked with anyone better than Jacob Weaver. He has the experience, enthusiasm, commitment to student achievement and the savvy to be successful in any administrative capacity. I recommend him highly and I would be most happy to further discuss his prospective contributions to Providence College as the Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. I can be reached at: Westley@rooseveltacademy.us
Sincerely,
Westley R. Ivankovich
Director of Operations and Residential Life
Roosevelt International Academy
Sylvia Stipich
RIA ELI Director sylvia@riaeli.us
75 East St.
Providence, RI 02903
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a letter of recommendation is for my friend and colleague, Jacob Weaver. I’ve known Mr. Weaver since August 2013 when I was hired to work at Roosevelt International Academy (RIA). My work as the English Language Institute Director is in a different capacity than Mr. Weaver’s work; nonetheless, in a small workplace, I am familiar with the many projects he has dedicated himself to and brought to fruition. As a Fuse RI Fellow with the Highlander Institute, I can also commend Mr. Weaver on his work with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in addition to his mentoring skills. I therefore wholeheartedly recommend Jacob Weaver.
Mr. Weaver has designed and coordinated the Ethos Institute, which melds social entrepreneurship with STEM to innovate educational solutions to global issues. This program encompasses several partnerships and contributory programs, such as: the RPI Technology and Engineering Discovery Program, the RISD Design Program, the Social Entrepreneurship Program with Brown University’s Swearer Center, and the Sustainable Design Program at an Eco-Resort in Italy led by RIA and professors from Harvard, Brown, and Yale University.
On site, Mr. Weaver has directed and coordinated on a multitude of diverse projects. He helped find, monitor, and coordinate Chinese students to be Mandarin tutors at Brown University. He also worked with Brown to plan an urban agriculture project building an on-site roof top garden. Next door to Roosevelt International is at Vartan Gregorian Elementary school, where Mr. Weaver has collaborated and organized several events and programs. For example, he assisted with planning, coordinating, and managing the International Fall Fest, the Spring Fling Clean Up, the Vartan Mini-Golf fundraiser where our students from RIA transformed the school into a mini-golf course as well as a tutoring and mentoring program with the RIA, Vartan Gregorian, and the Providence Boys and Girls Club which happens to be another neighbor or ours.
Mr. Weaver has also created many cross-curricular service learning opportunities for RIA students. Some of the projects he has created include: the DownCity Design partnership which gives students the opportunity to design and build real-world community projects such as the outdoor classroom and Bee Education Center at Rhode Island College that Mr. Weaver was influential in making possible; the Save the Bay partnership where students learn about ocean pollution, the Rhode Island shore line, and the importance of keeping our environment clean; the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) partnership which included the design and construction of signage and murals as well as the clean up and expansion of the WRWC bike path; the Community Boating Center partnership which allows our students to volunteer and learn how to sail and kayak; the Special Olympics partnership where our students learn about different disabilities and volunteer for a number of athletic competitions and events, the Rhode Island Food Bank partnership where our students learn about the importance of donating and providing for those in need; the Annual White Water Rafting Service Trip where students clean up the river and a historic cemetery while learning about the Native Americans and rafting; the Annual Ziplining Service Trip with trail building for a community recreation health initiative; the PRONK Parade where students march and play instruments with the community; the The Angels on Horseback partnership which allows students to volunteer and learn about therapeutic horseback riding and farm life; and several others, but there are far too many to mention.
What is more more important is that Mr. Weaver has been able to build strong and meaningful relationships with students, community organizations, and leaders throughout the state and quality cross-curricular service learning projects and trips. In particular, his work mentoring students has been very positive. Mr. Weaver can help both the students who already excel, and those who are at low points in their student life. For example, he helped prepare one of our high achieving students for her service trip to Peru. But his work with a student at risk for being expelled was even more noteworthy. Mr. Weaver put his neck on the line promising if he was given the chance to mentor the student, he would change his behavior. Mr. Weaver was able to persuade his colleagues and supervisors into given the student one last chance under his guidance and the student showed remarkable improvement. In fact, he is now a role model for many of the other boys and has since created a math team and joined model UN.
In conclusion, I recommend Mr. Weaver for his strategic leadership, problem solving, mentoring, and mediating skills. He has the ability diffuse a situation and turn a negative issue into a positive one, which I am sure will be valuable asset to your school. If you would like to further discuss Mr. Weaver’s candidacy, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Stipich
November 07, 2014
To whom it may concern:
It is with great honor and pleasure that I write a letter of recommendation on behalf of Jacob Weaver. I met Jacob during my undergraduate studies at Providence College in 2012 when I decided to become a peer mentor for first year multicultural and international students. I must say that I found myself very fortunate to have been able to meet such an amazing guy. I was immediately impressed with the dedication, commitment, and proactive engagement that Jacob took in being part of the group. Despite being a Graduate Student who I am confident at the time was juggling tons of work, Jacob not once ever missed an opportunity to be present as a supporter and an advisor for the peer mentors and our mentees. There was not one event that we hosted that he did not make sure to attend. He was our biggest supporter and truly believed in the importance of the work that we did as student leaders as well as the significance of the success of the students to whom we were serving. Jacob was always genuinely concerned and demonstrated an authentic way of being a great role model. It is without question that I can say Jacob Weaver was a phenomenal mentor to me. Having met Jacob, I was truly inspired by the person he was and the experiences he had.
The passion Jacob Weaver has for education and serving students at all levels, ignited in me a motivation to strive for that same compassion and commitment. I am sure others would be able to contest to this as well. This is the reason why I feel as though Jacob would be perfect for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. He is a devoted and committed individual to any task assigned to him. I got to watch him take such pride in what he does, that it becomes a way of life for him. All that Jacob decides to be part of is more than just a job, and an opportunity to serve all people with respect, dignity and equality that bears no judgment and no reciprocation besides that which will benefit those for whom he serves. If Jacob is blessed with the chance to serve in this position I am confident that he will do this job with greater expectations than what is required. He is an individual who gets along with all people, who is creatively talented, who is well connected, and who is a great advocate in bringing people together and getting things done. I truly believe that Jacob Weaver is an exceptional candidate and great person for this job.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me by phone at (401) 286-9751 or by email nmoniz1@jhu.edu
Thank you,
Nicole Moniz
M.S. School Counseling ’15
The Johns Hopkins University
Jessie Ngo
245 Summer Street, V2E
Boston, MA 02210
Jacob Weaver
Providence College
Providence, RI 02908
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing on behalf of Jacob Weaver regarding the Director of Citizenship and Off Campus Life position at Providence College. Jake and I have known each other through our involvement in the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs (BMSA) during academic year 2012-2013. His role as the Multicultural Activities Graduate Assistant, reporting to Elena Yee, firmly established his presence as the liaison between the Student Multicultural Activities Office (SMA) and BMSA. Through this relationship, Jake and I have collaborated on several occasions.
As the former chair of the BMSA Diversity Committee, I had worked with Jake and known him to be a highly motivated individual. BMSA has several student clubs under its umbrella and having these moving parts, Jake needed to quickly familiarize himself with the governance structure between BMSA and club leadership. He had spent a significant portion of his time interacting with students by attending weekly BMSA meetings and frequently visited the BMSA Office. This strengthened his network with student leaders and attributed to his success as a graduate assistant. Jake also attended the annual BMSA retreat as the only staff supervisor and coordinator upon our request due to our level of mutual respect and trust. He was responsible for overseeing the safety of several dozen students off campus and successfully supervised the retreat without incident. Needless to say, Jake was fully ingrained in PC and remained current on campus events and social life.
Jake frequently collaborated with student leaders in assisting with programs. Through his relationship with the Student Multicultural Activities office, he helped to allocate funds and facilitated strategic co-sponsorships leading to program success. An example of his commitment comes to mind; the BMSA Diversity committee had hosted guest speaker Tim Wise but, lacked necessary funding and transportation for a reception. Through his relationship with the Student Multicultural Activities office, Jake took initiative to secure funds, form co-sponsorships, and volunteered as a driver. It was well known that Jake has an aptitude for photography and film making. On many occasions he employed design thinking to document, edit, and curate the event galleries. Jake’s technical skills and understanding of photography enabled him to create communication plans that solved BMSA’s marketing challenges.
It was a pleasure to have known and worked with Jake, and I have seen what makes him a strong candidate for this director level position. He is a highly capable person who will bring the human element to his job. Working with a diverse student organization, Jake understands the grievances of multicultural groups and advocated on their behalf with Elena Yee. Jake brings a number of intangible strengths to this role. He is a highly adept problem solver with a uniqueness to employ design thinking principles. He managed to lead without authority and served as a resource to students. Jake’s resourcefulness, media expertise, and leadership are among the many reasons why I highly recommend him for this position.
Sincerely,
Jessie Ngo ‘13
Alexander Bezek
Letter of Recommendation for Jacob Weaver
November 11th, 2014
I am a recent graduate from Providence College (PC), and currently a graduate assistant with the Women’s Basketball Team. I have honestly enjoyed my time here at PC, although it was a bit of an adjustment at first. Coming from an urban community, diversity was all I knew. Coming to PC was an eye opening and culturally shocking experience. One of the program’s that helped with my social adjustment here at PC was the Horizon’s Mentoring Program. Horizon’s is a weekend retreat followed by a series of events, where multicultural students are given the chance to meet upperclassman who can not only be mentors, but also resources to every aspect at life. Horizon’s eased these nerves that the culture shock created, and assisted in my transition here at PC. I have met an ample amount of wonderful people during my experiences throughout the years with Horizon’s, and one of the most influential and inspiring was Jacob Weaver.
During my third year with the Horizon’s program I became a mentor, and I assisted PC freshman in the inevitable transition that would have to be made after stepping on campus. Jacob handled the majority of the administrative work and led most of the activities the groups took part in. I was most taken back by his organization and leadership skills. Jacob elevated the experience that came along with the Horizon’s retreat by scheduling activities that are culturally relevant to the attendee’s, and he created a comfort level that did not exist before his presence. He connected with the students on an intellectual and emotional level. When leading activities, he elaborated upon personal stories which exemplified his similarities to the students. Connecting with those who you advise is imperative to positive results on their end, and I believe that Jacob has mastered the art of doing so.
Throughout and after the Horizon’s retreat, Jacob continued to be a positive role model for the underclassman and upperclassman. The thing that surprised me most about Jacob was his culturally competency. He understood the adversities that minority students faced, and connected on a level that I never would have expected. He garnered the trust and respect of all the students he worked with. Months after the retreat Jacob, along with a few other administrators of the Horizons mentoring program scheduled and executed several small get togethers with all of the attendees of the program. During these meetings, he checked up on the student’s academic and social progression, and also became a resource for students whenever they were in a time of need.
Due to his organizational, people, and advising skills I highly recommend Jacob Weaver for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. Jacob has an abundance of experience working with college students, and is an understanding and an unusually genuine person. He will without a doubt be an amazing asset to the Providence College faculty, and I believe it would be a mistake to not hire him for this position because it is extremely rare that you come across a candidate of his caliber.
Sincerely,
Alexander Bezek
Francisco J. Oller
Orientation Leader, Admissions Ambassador, Student Congress Rep. & Motivational Speaker
Phone: 787-955-9777
Email: foller@friars.providence.edu
November 10, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
I am delighted to recommend Jacob Weaver for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life. I have known Jacob since my freshman year at Providence College and since meeting him he has always been a confident leader who is willing to listen and act. I am confident in his abilities and determination to advise an off-campus student association and succeed in this position.
I have been able to see first hand Jacob’s leadership and organizational skills as well as his creativity in event planning. During my freshman year I was planning a motivational speech event and Jacob was the first to respond. We collaborated on event elements such as marketing and content and thanks to a successful strategy we were able to fill the McPhail’s entertainment center. Jacob also opened the event with some heartfelt words about how we became friends through contemplation and communication while expressing the fact that we are all differently abled and have more similarities than differences.
Jacob has held many leadership positions, and he has excelled in all of them leaving lasting impacts on the people he has worked with. For this reason, I believe that he is more than ready for this position. Jacob’s ability to relate and work well with students and other adults, his good sense of humor, his willingness to work hard for something that he cares strongly about, and his organizational skills are all characteristics that make him an ideal candidate. In the final analysis, he is an open, honest, empathetic, sincere, and dedicated leader who will succeed in this role if given the opportunity.
I have always thought of Jacob as an exceptional individual, not only because of his abilities and personality, but also his strength of character and goodwill to others. There is no question in my mind that Jacob is one of these individuals. I believe that Providence College should and will be proud to have him as a staff member, and I therefore give him my highest recommendation for the position of Director of Citizenship and Off-Campus Life.
Sincerely,
Francisco J. Oller
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Ady Pina and I am currently a Teacher Leader at KIPP Tech Valley Charter School in Albany, N.Y. I have received both my B.A. and M.S. at Hofstra University located in Long Island, N.Y. In 2009, I had the opportunity to meet and work with Jacob Weaver at KIPP Tech Valley Charter School. Through this experience, I was able to build a respectful and professional relationship with Jacob. In addition to his physical education and KIPP To and Through College instructional work, learning about Jacob’s independent projects with students, helps me characterize him as a man of perseverance, achievement, and leadership.
Jacob taught two courses grades 5-8 and served as a guidance counselor, coach, and mentor. He also started a mentoring and leaderhsip development program his first year at KIPP. I was very impressed with his organizational skills, classroom management, professionalism, and ability to balance all of his tasks while still being available to help other teachers and students on the drop of a dime. He exceeded all of his expectations inside and outside of the school. During his limited free time, Jacob managed to have several independent projects where his leadership skills flourished. Through his work, Jacob showed his commitment to the students and the Albany community. Some of the projects Jacob administered were:
•Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, orienteering, and camping trips with the Department of Environmental Conservation Outdoor Education Program that focused on bringing urban youth out of the city to experience new activities.
•Project Inspire Mentoring and Leadership Development Program which motivated students to improve academically and achieve individual goals.
•Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Press Conference for the new local library, so students could meet and talk to the Mayor of Albany about projects to enhance the community.
•Habitat for Humanity Projects
•High School Prep after school tutoring which consisted of SSAT Prep, practice interviews that he videotaped for the students to reflect on, essay writing skills, time management, debate, public speaking and much more.
•Produced radio-quality teacher/student song collaborations about education and motivation to do your best and succeed.
•NBA/WNBA FIT which was a competition where three students went on and placed in regional and state competitions.
In addition to the independent projects, Jacob was able to help students receive scholarships and recognition awards. For example, in 2009, he helped a senior at KIPP Tech Valley receive a full four-year $160,000 scholarship to Emma Willard Private School. In addition, he was the first KIPP teacher to ever nominate students for the Albany Youth Recognition Awards and the two students he nominated were awarded with Most Outstanding Student and Most Artistic Student in Albany, NY.
It is with great pleasure that I write to you in recommendation of Jacob Weaver. The staff, students and parents here at KIPP Tech Valley miss Mr. Weaver, but he still mentors several of the students and proves to be a very positive influence on them. Since he left K.I.P.P. he has continued to expand his mentoring and educational programs at different schools. He helped bring two different AA varsity basketball teams to the Sectional Title Championship in two years and has succeeded in all of his endeavors because of his hard work, dedication, and determination. He is an honest, passionate, and caring individual who will make an extremely valuable asset to your school or organization.
Sincerely,
Ady Pina, MSED
(347) 601-0520
To Whom It May Concern,
I met Jacob Weaver while he was teaching at K.I.P.P. Tech Valley Charter School and just starting Project Inspire in 2009. Over the years I have become astonished by Jacob’s passion for teaching, mentoring, and helping his students. He reached out to me, because I was running a program called, "Doctors Back to School" which is part of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). The SNMA is national program that requires medical students to get involved in their community and to give back. The Doctors Back to School Program focuses on local elementary schools with the aim of exposing young students to the medical field and to the pursuit of higher education. Jacob saw that it was a great opportunity to introduce his students to futures that they otherwise may not consider.
After meeting Jacob I quickly became aware that he is a man of action that will go above and beyond his teaching and coaching requirements to help his students succeed. He finds joy in helping others and works hard to open doors for his students that pertain to their specific interests. He takes the time to create programs individually designed for every student he mentors which includes specific steps, objectives, goals, and deadlines. He is also involved with organizing special projects for his students so they can experience new things such as making songs, photography, acting, dancing, sporting events, outdoor education and many other activities. Jacob manages to coordinate all of this while teaching, counseling, and coaching full time and funds the projects himself.
Jacob is extremely focused and doesn’t let anything get in his way from accomplishing his goals. For example he helped a girl receive a full scholarship to Emma Willard by putting in the time to tutor and prepare her for the application and interview process. He began by giving her practice interviews and videotaped them, allowing her to learn from her mistakes and gain confidence. He also helped her develop her writing and improved her public speaking as well as tutored her with SSAT prep which helped her to achieve the highest score in her school and get accepted into all five of the very competitive private schools in the area. Jacob believes that with hard work any individual can succeed regardless of their background and he instills this belief in every child, adolescent, and adult he works with.
I have been fortunate enough to witness first-hand how Jacob has changed the lives of the students he mentors. Albany and Troy are tough areas and many of the students get involved in bad habits at a young age. Jacob has helped these students to drop out of gangs and to stop using and selling drugs by encouraging them to improve their academics and to pursue passions they didn’t even know they had. I recently read an article in the Albany Times Union newspaper that I felt summed up his character quite well. The article is titled "Troy’s Weaver a True Role Model" and the following is an excerpt of the article that I wanted to share with you:
"And for eight years now, Jake Weaver has done everything in his life with a full-steam-ahead mentality. Moving on helps explain why he returned first to the Shaker JV team wearing an eye patch and then went on to play two years for Holmes with his prosthetic eye. That positive attitude pushed Weaver to get his college degree, become a teacher, a motivational speaker and a coach. One incredible illustration of the person Jake Weaver is revolves around seeking, and ultimately getting, the chance to meet the man who shot him. "It is remarkable how open and honest he is. For him to meet and forgive the person that shot him is not an athlete or basketball coach, it is about being the best human being you can be, "Doemel said.” As a father, I honestly don't know how I would have reacted if Jake was my son. The beauty of Jake Weaver is he is always thinking of others before himself. He is always optimistic and looks at the good in any situation."
You will not regret selecting Jacob, because he will do whatever it takes to succeed. He does so much good for the community he works in and I know he will make you proud. He has an incredible vision to change the world, and I believe he will.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brittany Potz
(914) 588-7831
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter in support of Jacob Weaver as a candidate for any position in your school district. I have known Jake as a student in a number of courses and extracurricular functions and can say without reservation that he is one of the top students in his graduating class of over two hundred physical education majors. This young man is not a “typical” candidate- he has exceptional professional bearing and passion which puts him in a distinctly different class. He is at the top of the list in our faculty’s minds for awards within our department. He is a rare candidate with tremendous passion and the talent to back it up. You would be remiss in not hiring him.
Jacob’s entrance to Cortland brought with it a serious passion and desire to get involved at a professional level. He quickly became known as one who will volunteer and get involved in every physical education activity that is held. Before long he was vice president of the Alliance of Physical Education Majors, an enviable position in our program. In this position he coordinated numerous activities and professional growth opportunities for fellow students.
Jacob Weaver is a natural leader. He is mature, intelligent, and also driven by new trends in the field. Even as an undergraduate he is already an experienced presenter at state-level and regional physical education conferences- quite an accomplishment! Again, Jake is top-notch and not the type of candidate one sees everyday. You will get more than the sum of his experiences; you will get a passionate professional.
I give Jacob Weaver my very highest recommendation with honors.
Sincerely,
Eric L. Malmberg
Dr. Eric Malmberg, Ed.D.
Professor
Physical Education Department
(607) 753-5740
To whom this may concern,
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Jacob Weaver. In the winter of 2009 I was Jacob’s cooperating teacher for his student teaching experience at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. The seven weeks spent with him gave me valuable insight on an individual who promises to be an outstanding physical education teacher.
Jacob’s content knowledge was extraordinary. It gave him a sound foundation on which to build his teaching career. His background knowledge allowed him to bring outstanding creativity to his student teaching performance. Simple activities became creations that had an enormous impact on the interest and activity level of his students. He always had the student’s attention because of his varied approach to teaching different activities. Jacob’s passion and commitment for instruction was evidenced in his lesson plans. He was thorough and complete which allowed him to always be one step ahead of any potential problem. What stood out to me as his best quality was his love for young people. While he was firm and had excellent class room management skills he also had a compassionate side. It was this aspect of Jacob that enabled him to connect with different types of students. His listening skills quickly developed a comfort level for the children to connect with. This combination of qualities resulted in a very rewarding experience for me, his cooperating teacher. It assisted in my professional growth.
In closing, with a strong base of content knowledge, a passion/commitment, a strong level of creativity and a compassionate quality Jacob cannot be anything other than a remarkable physical education instructor. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. It truly was a privilege writing this recommendation for Jacob.
Sincerely,
John D. Meehan, Jr.
Physical Education Instructor
Instructional Specialist, Physical Education Department
Fayetteville-Manlius High School
8201 East Seneca Turnpike
Manlius, N.Y. 13104
(315) 692-1998
Professional References:
Dr. Betty Calise
Providence College
Graduate School Professor
(401) 864-7271
Dr. Lawrence Filippelli
Scituate School Department/Providence College
Assistant Superintendent/Graduate School Professor
(401) 647-4100
Elena Yee
Providence College
Director of Student Multicultural Activities
(805) 455-6615
Michael Dunican
Roosevelt International Academy
Dean of Students and Pre-College Program
(936) 522-6508
Karen Barbosa
Woonsocket High School
Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO)
(617) 947-4226
Paul Reinisch
Enlarged City School District of Troy
Director of Physical Education, Athletics, Health and Safety
(518) 328-5407
David Doemel
Christian Brothers Academy
Guidance Administrator & Head Varsity Basketball Coach
(518) 859-1074
Ady Pina
KIPP: Tech Valley Charter School
Teacher Leader/Administrator in Training
(347) 601-0520
