[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO MRS. DORIS SMALLWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 12, 2000

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Doris 
Smallwood, a dedicated teacher with 36 years of experience in the 
Philadelphia School System. Unfortunately for us, Mr. Speaker, this 
year marks the last in which she will be educating our children at the 
Hunter School. Her retirement at the end of this school year deserves 
recognition not only for the longevity which her career achieved, but 
for the special impact she has had on the students and teachers she has 
encountered over the years. As Mrs. Smallwood moves to the next chapter 
of her life, it is incumbent upon us to reflect back and praise her for 
the extraordinary service she has provided to our community.
  Mrs. Smallwood has been called a ``teacher's teacher'' by her peers. 
As an exemplary instructor of the 3rd grade with a keen interest in 
math, it was not uncommon to find Mrs. Smallwood conducting math 
lessons for her fellow teachers after school. Her dedication to 
mathematics resulted in the development of assessment standards which 
ensured that teachers were up to par in that field. Mrs. Smallwood, in 
effect, raised the bar for qualifications of teachers and did this 
solely out of her innate desire to better educate our youth.
  Mrs. Smallwood prepared her students for the world to come not 
through rudimentary lesson plans, but through an engaging relationship 
that spanned beyond the classroom walls. When the technology boom 
occurred, it was Mrs. Smallwood who developed the grant to provide a 
computer lab for the Hunter School. It is no wonder that it was also 
she who became Technology Specialist after earning her certification in 
technology at the college level. Her proficiency in computers allowed 
for Internet training of Mentally Gifted students and for basic 
computer training of kids starting as early as kindergarten. 
Furthermore, Mrs. Smallwood understood the important link between home 
and school. She has been instrumental in the design and success of the 
Parent Partnership Program which prepares both parent and child for the 
transition from home to the school community.
  The citizens of Philadelphia will sorely miss the heart-felt 
dedication that Mrs. Smallwood displayed during her tenure as a teacher 
with the Hunter School. She has defended the belief that all students 
can and will learn. She has also proclaimed that the only barrier to 
success is indifference, something she has never allowed herself or 
those around her to experience. She is a master teacher who has 
perfected her craft yet continues to choose learning as an avenue to 
life. She truly is, in every essence of the word, a teacher. We can 
only hope that others will emulate her commitment to excellence and her 
pursuit for the educational advancement of all students.

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