[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E771-E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commend eight 
dedicated teachers from Northwest Indiana, who have been voted 
outstanding educators for the 1997-98 school year. These individuals, 
Mary Czapko, Donna Dowty, Marilynn Edwards, Bill Gresh, Peter Hedges, 
Nancy Mills, Judith Musselman, and Mary Tanis, will be presented the 
Crystal Apple Award at a reception at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza 
in Merrillville, Indiana, today, May 6, 1998. Mary Czapko will also 
receive the torch of Knowledge Award for being selected the outstanding 
member of this distinguished group of educators.
  Mary Czapko has been a first grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary 
School in Roselawn, Indiana for 22 years. She is known as a dedicated 
teacher by her colleagues, since she puts so much time into planning 
her lessons and developing special projects for the school and her 
surrounding community. Mary has since handedly organized such programs 
as ``Green Eggs to Hamlet'', which involved convincing community 
members to read to young children in all three of the public libraries 
in her area. She was also active in ``Read Across America'' family 
reading night on Dr. Seuss' birthday, and was instrumental in 
developing the ``Math Their Way'' program in the North Newton School 
Corporation. An individual with a strong commitment to early childhood 
education, Mary has even used her own money to purchase books to create 
a resource library for all teachers in the North Newton School 
Corporation.
  Donna Dowty, a teacher described by her colleagues as someone who 
puts the needs of children first, has also taught within the North 
Newton School Corporation for 22 years. Donna began her career as a 
kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, where her 
development of a kindergarten graduation program has remained a 
tradition for 23 years. Over the years, she has taught kindergarten, 
first, and second grade at Morocco Elementary School, and she has 
become well-known for working with parents for the betterment of their 
children's education, as well as doing whatever it takes to get a child 
to succeed. Donna participates in a variety of programs and committees, 
including the Parent Teacher Organization and technology committee. One 
of her most noteworthy accomplishments was obtaining a 4R grant for 
mini-computer labs in Morocco Elementary School's kindergarten and 
first grade.
  Marilyn Edwards has been a science teacher with Taft Middle School 
for over 20 years. During this time, she has become known for making 
the success of her students her top priority. A strong belief in 
cooperative learning has marked her career. Hands-on learning methods 
are used in her own classroom, and she has been instrumental in 
integrating lab activities into the school's curriculum. Some 
organizations to which Marilynn belongs include: the Indiana Science 
Assessment Teachers' Association; the Indiana Science Teachers' 
Association; and the National Science Teachers' Association. Locally, 
she serves on the Crown Point and Taft Professional Development 
Committees, and she is a member of Taft School's Improvement Team, 
which guided the staff's transition from a junior high school to a 
middle school. Marilynn is described by those who know her as a 
professional, caring, and hard-working teacher who has improved 
education at all levels.
  Bill Gresh, who has worked at Lowell High School for 12 years, has 
made his mark on education by placing the school's Media Center at the 
forefront of technology and innovation. Bill changed the Lowell High 
School Library into a Media Center, beginning with the installation of 
an electronic card catalog and CD ROMs, and culminating with the 
current online services in place. Over the years, Bill's focus has 
remained clear. to make available a plethora of current resources 
available to students, faculty, and staff. Bill's colleagues describe 
him as a professional who is available, approachable, and 
accommodating. If a new teaching idea is being considered, Bill is 
known to work with the necessary individuals to make worthwhile 
projects a reality. As a 20-year veteran of the teaching profession, 
Bill remains devoted to securing for teachers the tools they need to 
deliver state of the art instruction to their students.
  Peter Hedges has been a science teacher at Highland Middle School for 
the past 34 years. Peter is known by his students and colleagues, 
alike, for his enthusiastic and good-humored approach to teaching. His 
wit makes his presentations entertaining and informative for his 
students, and encourages them to become excited about the subject 
matter. Those who work with Peter describe him as being a voice of 
reason, as he often reminds them that the reason for being a teacher is 
to educate children. His colleagues agree that they are better people 
for having known and worked with him.
  Nancy Mills has been a devoted Spanish teacher for 25 years, 19 of 
which she has spent teaching at Lowell High School. For many years, 
Nancy has successfully taught the fourth year Spanish class at Lowell. 
According to Purdue University, 56 of the 76 credits college credits 
Lowell students accumulated through Advanced Placement (AP) testing 
last year, were granted to Spanish students. Indeed, every member of 
Nancy's 1997 Spanish class earned college credit.
  Judith Musselman has been a Speech and English teacher at Highland 
High School for 34 years. Throughout her career, Judith has a 
reputation among her colleagues for working to advance the expertise, 
knowledge, and preparedness of the students she has instructed.

[[Page E772]]

She has done so, not only through classroom instruction, but also 
through participation in various extracurricular endeavors. Judith has 
worked to improve the departmental curriculum, participating in 
departmental meetings, becoming involved in various training programs, 
and holding an active role in major committees, such as the technology 
committee. Over the years, Judith has worked to provide her students 
within an excellent education, and she has been rewarded as many of her 
students return to thank her for the work ethic she instilled in them.
  Mary Tanis has been a Social Studies and English teacher at Kahler 
Middle School in Dyer, Indiana for 24 years. Throughout her career, 
Mary has designed a variety of creative projects in her classroom, 
which have sparked the interest of her students and fellow teachers. 
She has, for instance, implemented Arbor and Earth Day projects in her 
classroom. 16 years ago, she created a genealogy project, which is 
still used to teach children about their different heritages. Mary has 
also been a forerunner in keeping students apprised of technological 
resources available to them, and she was one of the first teachers in 
her school corporation to use the Internet as a classroom tool for 
instilling in students an interest in current events, history, and the 
weather. Mary's efforts to focus her young students on current affairs 
has led several of her former students to run for political office.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending these outstanding educators on their receipt of the 
1998 Crystal Apple Award. The years of hard work they have put forth in 
shaping the minds and futures of Northwest Indiana's young people is a 
true inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________