[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E896-E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DEBORAH R. JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 1998

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Deborah 
R. Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina, a Richland School District 
One's 1998-1999 Teacher of the Year Finalist. Aside from being a recent 
finalist for the district's top teaching honor, Ms. Johnson received 
her school's top honor by being named Virginia Pack Elementary School 
Teacher of the Year. She is also a Richland School District One Honor 
Roll Teacher of the Year.
  Ms. Johnson received most of her formal education in the Sixth 
Congressional District, which I represent. She graduated from Burke 
High School in Charleston, South Carolina, and South Carolina State 
College, now South Carolina State University, in Orangeburg. She went 
on to receive her Masters in Education and Computer Technology from the 
University of Charleston, S.C.
  Ms. Johnson began her distinguished teaching career in the Charleston 
County public schools system. She was once Teacher of the Month and 
twice the Distinguished Reading Teacher in the district. She was also 
Charleston County School District's Teacher of the Year for two 
consecutive years. During the 1994-1995 school year Ms. Johnson 
received both the President's Award and an Outstanding Achievement 
Award for post-secondary level teaching.
  Aside from having an impact on the lives of many students, Ms. 
Johnson remains very active in her community. She is often a poll 
manager for the election commission, a tutor for ``Community Helpers,'' 
a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP), and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
  As a former teacher in the school district where Ms. Johnson began 
teaching, I take great pleasure in her many accomplishments.

[[Page E897]]

With a new millennium in sight, excellent teachers should be our 
nation's most prized possessions, for it is through their efforts the 
quality of our leaders of tomorrow will be determined. Mr. Speaker, I 
ask you to join me today in honoring Deborah R. Johnson for her 
outstanding work as a role model and teacher.

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