[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING MISS ERNA ELDER ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 1998

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great teacher, 
Miss Erna Elder, on her retirement from St. Mark's Lutheran School in 
Steeleville, Illinois.
  She has shared her many talents with her community for the past 42 
years. Miss Elder joined the St. Mark's staff in the fall of 1957 and 
taught both the first and second grade classes. For twenty-four of the 
past forty-two years she also served as the school's secretary during 
the summer months. In 1979, Miss Elder also served as the Secretary-
Treasurer of the Southern Illinois District Teacher's Conference. 
During the 1986 school term she served as the acting Principal.
  Miss Elder served St. Mark's in many other capacities over the years, 
such as Walther League Counselor, basketball scorekeeper and several 
committees benefiting the St. Mark's community. She has also had the 
pleasure of watching St. Mark's grow from having just five class room 
teachers for grades 1-8 to eleven teachers for Pre-Kindergarten through 
grade 8.
  Miss Elder is an alumnus of St. Mark's having attended grades 4-8. 
She is a graduate of Sparta High School. From there she went on to 
receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Southern 
Illinois University in Carbondale where she majored in Elementary 
Education.
  In 1992, Miss Elder received the honor of being named to Who's Who 
Among America's Teachers. Over the years, Miss Elder has taught 846 
students. As the first grade teacher for the majority of her 42 years 
of dedicated service to St. Marks she has influenced many young lives.
  I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Miss Erna 
Elder on her retirement after many devoted years of service to the 
children of St. Marks and the entire community.

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