[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 100 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO RETIRED READING INSTRUCTOR BILLIE HULVER

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that second 
grade Title I Reading Instructor Billie Hulver, of Lexington R-V School 
District in Missouri, retired from the teaching profession on May 24, 
1999.
  Mrs. Hulver began her teaching career after earning her Bachelor of 
Arts degree from Central Missouri State University in 1977, where she 
also later earned a Masters degree in Remedial Reading. She taught at 
the Leslie Bell School in Lexington, MO, for 22 years, helping many 
children learn to read in the ensuing years.
  A highlight of Mrs. Hulver's career occurred recently when she had 
the opportunity to present the district's early intervention reading 
program at the International Reading Association annual convention in 
San Diego, CA. Mrs. Hulver was instrumental in the development of the 
district's special 90-minute reading program for those students who 
could benefit from the extra help in learning this all-important 
educational skill.
  With special assistance and encouragement from Leslie Bell Elementary 
School Principal Barbara Kitchell, Mrs. Hulver designed a ``pull-out'' 
program--where students are pulled out of their regular classroom for 
their extra reading instruction--in 1994. Most school districts have 
only a 30-minute duration reading assistance program.
  In the ``pull-out'' program, each group attending a 90-minute session 
is broken down into smaller, more flexible groups of 3 or 4 students, 
with each small group spending a predetermined amount of time at 
several work centers set up around the room. At the end of each time 
period, the students at one learning center move on to the next 
learning center, eventually making their way around the room, having 
spent some time in each of the learning centers. Activities are 
directed by the teachers at some of the learning centers, with the 
students working independently at others. The program has resulted in 
significant improvement in the reading scores of participating 
students.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in extending our 
heartfelt gratitude to Billie Hulver for her dedication and 
professionalism in helping the youth of our country develop their 
reading skills, and in wishing her a happy and healthy retirement.

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