[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ``BELIEVERS IN READING'' HONORING KAREN TAYLOR AND NATIONAL TEACHER 
                           APPRECIATION WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Teacher Appreciation 
week and our attention is focused on education. As the elected 
Representative of Missouri's Ninth Congressional District, I have the 
distinct honor of representing sixteen colleges and universities, and a 
plethora of public and private schools which help prepare students to 
enter these educational institutions.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to honor all of the hard 
working individuals who work in these educational institutions in 
central and northeastern Missouri. Each and every one deserves 
accolades for their role in providing excellence in education.
  Today, however, I would like to point the national spotlight to 
highlight one of many devoted teachers who have dedicated their lives 
to provide quality education in Missouri's Ninth Congressional 
District.
  Last month, Mr. Stan Taylor of Columbia, Missouri, stopped by my 
district office to request a congratulations letter be sent to his 
wife, Karen, on her retirement from the Columbia Public School system. 
Karen began teaching in 1961 in a rural, one room school house called 
East Center School in Kirksville, Missouri. She had the tremendous 
responsibility for teaching all grades, first through twelve, at East 
Center School.
  In 1967, Karen began teaching within the Columbia Public School 
District, and for the last twenty years she has taught second grade 
elementary school at Rock Bridge Elementary School in Columbia, 
Missouri.
  Mr. Speaker, as I learned of Karen's dedication to improve education 
in Missouri's Ninth District, I felt if befitting that I recognize her 
special efforts, and in doing so, I honor all of those like her who 
have dedicated their professional lives to help enhance the education 
of their students.
  Not surprisingly, I do not stand alone in placing this honor. On May 
22nd, the Missouri Teachers Association and more than 300 people--
family, friends, colleagues and former students--will help celebrate 
Karen's educational efforts at Rock Bridge Elementary School during a 
reception to commemorate her retirement after twenty years of teaching 
in the Columbia Public School system.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to close with Mr. Taylor's words about his 
wife. He wrote that the most important lesson Karen stressed to her 
students was the power of knowledge through reading. Every day she 
would read to her students. It was her goal throughout her thirty year 
teaching career to encourage every student to become believers in the 
importance of reading. Thank-you Karen, for your devotion to your 
students and for providing excellent education for many generations of 
children. I stand here today to honor you and all those who share your 
commitment towards excellence in education. May we all celebrate 
National Teacher Appreciation Week with those who have given us the 
priceless gift of education.

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