[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MARY BETH BLEGEN, MINNESOTA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

 Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, with great pleasure and 
enthusiasm I would like to recognize Mary Beth Blegen as the Minnesota 
Teacher of the Year. Not only has Ms. Blegen been awarded the 1995 
Minnesota Teacher of the Year, but she has also been selected as one of 
the four distinguished finalists for the National Teacher of the Year 
program. Ms. Blegen arrived in Washington Sunday and has been giving a 
presentation sharing her dedication to the youth of Minnesota, 
attending press conferences, and giving interviews for the National 
Teacher of the Year Award. Despite her rigorous schedule I was 
delighted to meet with Ms. Blegen to give her my support and of course 
wish her the best in the competition.
  Mary Beth Blegen a dedicated educator for 30 years, is a teacher of 
English, writing, and humanities at Worthington Senior High School. Ms. 
Blegen illustrates the dedication Minnesotans have to providing quality 
education for our children. It is also my honor to note that three 
previous National Teachers of the Year have been from Minnesota and 
only California has contributed more teachers to this national award.
  I'd also like to recognize Minnesota's biggest education 
organization, the Minnesota Education Association [MEA], and it's 
48,000 members, who represent over 80 percent of Minnesota's public 
school teachers. MEA has sponsored the Minnesota Teacher of the Year 
program for 33 years.

                          ____________________