[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S11907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MARILYN HERZ AS SOUTH DAKOTA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR 2001

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to 
honor Marilyn Herz, a sixth grade language arts teacher from Rapid 
City, who has recently been named South Dakota's Teacher of the Year 
for 2001.
  Marilyn currently teaches at West Middle School in Rapid City and has 
taught various grade levels in the Rapid City Area School District 
since 1983. She has devoted an impressive 22 years of her life to 
teaching elementary school.
  Marilyn's greatest service to our community lies in her devotion as 
an educator to her students. She deserves the greatest praise both from 
the families of these young individuals, and from all those whose lives 
she will touch. Her efforts are an invaluable investment in South 
Dakota's future and we are all truly blessed to have her in the 
classroom.
  In a true testimony of Marilyn's devotion and love for teaching, she 
commented that her greatest contribution to education is simply that 
she has given, and will continue to give, all the caring, commitment, 
and compassion that she has within her to guide students to succeed 
academically, emotionally, and socially.
  Marilyn also makes extra efforts to see that her classes are learning 
to their potential and preparing themselves for the demands of the 21st 
century. A true veteran in the field of education, Marilyn's efforts to 
increase the credibility of teaching as a profession is designed to 
entice and encourage a new generation of students into following her in 
this most honorable profession.
  Marilyn will now proceed to the national competition for Teacher of 
the Year. I express my appreciation for the Rapid City Public School 
Foundation for sponsoring the Teacher of the Year program in the Rapid 
City School District. As well, I congratulate all of the South Dakota 
teachers nominated this year.
  I commend Marilyn for her outstanding service to the youth of our 
community. Congratulations and thank you, Marilyn, for your commitment 
to excellence and dedicated service to your students, your community, 
and to South Dakota.

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