[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 97 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           HONORING TEACHERS

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 1994

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today in order 
to congratulate two members of my constituency for their efforts toward 
improving the quality of education in America. In our ongoing quest to 
lower the level of illiteracy, eliminate violence and drugs from the 
lives of our youth, and increase the number of teens graduating from 
high school, excellence in education is essential. The efforts of 
teachers both inside and outside the classroom are in intricate part of 
these efforts. For these reasons it is my distinguished pleasure to 
commend the teaching team of Claudia A. Fournier and Herman E. Veith, 
Jr. from Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, FL, which 
was recently awarded one of 60 GTE Growth Initiatives for Teachers 
(GIFT) grants for their combined efforts in developing a proposal 
involving the subjects of mathematics and science for both the 
enrichment of their students and professional advancement of the 
teachers.
  The student enrichment portion of the proposal developed by Ms. 
Fournier and Mr. Veith, which will include 150 students studying 
physics and advanced math, gives the students a comprehensive 
mathematical and technical foundation for exploring their own 
individual interests in electronics.
  Both of these teachers have committed themselves to professional 
advancement programs. Ms. Fournier proposes to get her certification in 
advanced placement calculus and spend 5 days at the Space Academy for 
Educators. Mr. Veith will participate in NASA's Capital Area Space 
Orientation Program as well as take four graduate courses at Barry 
University to begin work on a master's degree in computer science.
  The grant received, worth $12,000, comes from a pool of $6.5 million 
funded entirely by GTE. The money is to be spent on the proposal 
submitted, $5,000 dollars for the professional improvement of the 
teachers, and $7,000 dollars for student enrichment programs.
  Claudia Fournier has a bachelor of science degree in math from the 
University of Alaska. Recently she has completed an M.Ed. in 
educational leadership. She has taught at schools in Ohio, Virginia, 
and Florida before coming to Chaminade-Madonna in 1992. Outside of 
teaching, she was worked for the Army Corps of Engineers and B.F. 
Goodrich.
  Herman Veith has bachelor of science and 30 graduate credits in 
electrical engineering. He registered as a professional engineer in 
Pennsylvania, with extensive industrial experience before beginning his 
teaching career. He has been at Chaminade-Madonna since for the past 4 
years.
  The support of educational advancement programs such as this is 
essential in creating a strong and secure future for American 
education. The efforts of both the recipients and GTE should to be 
applauded, and their example followed in order to improve our 
educational standards.