[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E836-E837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS FROM NORTHWEST INDIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2001

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, It is my distinct honor to commend seven 
dedicated teachers from Northwest Indiana who have been voted 
outstanding educators by their peers for the 2000-2001 school year. 
These individuals, Darwin Kinney, Zita Dodge, Mary Hedges, Judy 
Seehausen, Sandra Baker, Pat Reyes and Pat Nemeth, will be presented 
the Crystal Apple Award at a reception sponsored by the Indiana State 
Teachers Association. This glorious event will take place at the 
Broadmoor Country Club in Merrillville, Indiana, on Wednesday, May 16, 
2001.
  Darwin Kinney, from Crown Point Community School Corporation, has 
taught for 34 years at Crown Point High School. While Darwin carries a 
heavy teaching load of Biology and Life Science, he has always been 
dedicated to maintaining personal interaction with his pupils. His 
commitment to students is obvious. As an educator, Darwin works closely 
with his students during and after school, ensuring that they maximize 
their potential. His desire to educate and enlighten the minds of the 
young adults who enter his room is evident in the way in which he 
interacts with his classes.
  Zita Dodge, from Hanover Community School Corporation, uses several 
different learning styles to reach every student. The love and care 
that she shows the children is reflected on every student's face. Zita 
started teaching in Hanover in 1970, where her career began as a music 
teacher. She then taught kindergarten and later moved on to teach first 
grade. During her service as an educator, Zita has served on several 
district and building committees. Continuing to challenge herself 
through education, Zita went back to school to become a counselor and 
was hired as a Home School Facilitator. For the past five years, Zita 
has enjoyed being back in the classroom teaching first grade. Zita has 
always unselfishly dedicated herself to the field of education, both to 
the children who were in her many classes and to all the adults that 
she helped become better parents and teachers.

[[Page E837]]

  A dedicated teacher for 32 years, Mary Hedges of the School Town of 
Highland is a role model, inspiration and an outstanding professional. 
Mary is a wonderful caring teacher who frequently creates hands-on 
lessons for her students. She is always ready to listen to others. Mary 
is very active in the School Corporation. She is an officer of the PTO, 
sits on the Science Curriculum Committee and the Textbook Committee, 
and helps with the Performance Based Assessment.
  Judy Seehausen began her teaching career in 1974 in Columbus, 
Georgia, and is currently employed in the Lake Central School 
Corporation in St. John, Indiana. When Judy and her family moved to 
Indiana, she taught at Kahler Middle School. In 1979, Judy earned a 
life license in English, Guidance and Counseling and began working as a 
counselor at the high school. Judy returns to the classroom every 
summer to teach English, maintaining her teacher-student perspective. 
Teachers turn to Judy as their strongest advocate and her peers 
describe her as an outstanding and dedicated professional. She is a 
diplomat, creative problem solver and a mediator for all.
  As a professional educator during her thirty years of service to the 
School Town of Munster, Sandra Baker has been a valuable asset. Sandra 
is a leader in civic education, and has led her classes to superior 
rankings in the regional and state ``We the People'' constitutional 
hearings for eight consecutive years. In 1995, the American Lawyers 
Auxiliary named Sandra ``Elementary Teacher of the Year.'' For the past 
15 years, she has taught a full-time magnet class for academically 
talented 5th graders. Sandra's greatest desire is to leave a positive 
mark on the world through her work with children.
  Pat Reyes from North Newton School Corporation in Morocco, Indiana, 
has been a third grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School for twenty-
six years. Pat is conscientious about having her students meet the 
standards expected of them, but she also gets involved in many 
extracurricular activities. For example, Pat works with the National 
Arbor Day Foundation in order to involve the school in an annual tree 
planting ceremony. She also is instrumental in coordinating special 
observances such as Read Across America Day, Grandparents' Day and PTA 
sponsored events. Pat is a continuous source of enthusiasm for her 
student and others.
  Pat Nemeth's high school teaching career is coming to a close as she 
nears a well-deserved retirement. Pat has taught at North Newton High 
School, Hanover Central High School, and for 24 years at Lowell High 
School. In addition to teaching business courses in the Tri-Creek 
School Corporation, she also teaches courses at Davenport University. 
Pat is the past recipient of the Inland-Ryerson Steel Outstanding 
Teacher Award, I wish Pat a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
commending these outstanding educators on their receipt of the 2000-
2001 Crystal Apple Award. The years of hard work they have put forth in 
shaping the minds and futures of Northwest Indiana's young people is a 
true inspiration to us all.

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