[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO JOLENE FRANKEN

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, next week will mark a new beginning 
for the Iowa State Education Association when Jolene Franken steps down 
as President. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Jolene 
for her many accomplishments as a teacher and the outstanding job she 
has done as the head of the organization representing Iowa teachers. 
She has done Iowa proud.
  We are all familiar with the expression that teachers touch the 
future. Whenever I see these words I think of teachers like Jolene 
Franken, a woman who is passionate about education and our children. As 
an elementary teacher for thirty years in Iowa, she has touched the 
lives of thousands of children.
  Jolene Franken earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Greenville 
College in Greenville, IL and Masters Degree from Northwest Missouri 
State University. Jolene exemplifies life long learning and has 
participated in additional professional development activities at the 
University of Northern Iowa and University of Iowa.
  Most of Jolene's career has been spent teaching first grade, but she 
is always open to new challenges. Most recently, she taught 
academically talented elementary students in the Denison Community 
School District's Extended Learning Program. Jolene has also been 
active in the creative problem solving competition, ``Destination 
Imagination,'' and has served as coach of the Iowa team for five years. 
Her Destination Imagination teams have participated in two World 
Championships. She has also been a driving force behind the Iowa State 
Academic Decathlon since its inception.
  Jolene has also been an active member of the Iowa State Education 
Association and National Education Association throughout her career 
where she has held numerous offices. As President of ISEA for the past 
four years, she has been a tireless advocate for children and public 
education. She has fought to increase awareness of the teacher shortage 
in Iowa, fought to increase teachers' salaries and has pushed for 
quality teacher mentor programs.
  As a first grade teacher, Jolene understands the importance of 
reading and has been an avid participant in NEA's Read Across America 
Day. Every year on Dr. Seuss' birthday, Jolene dons a ``Cat in the 
Hat'' costume to visit Iowa schools and read to the children.
  I commend and thank Jolene for her hard work to improve Iowa schools 
and educate Iowa's youth. Jolene's community, her State and her country 
are better off because of her years as an educator and leader for the 
futures of all of our children. While I have highlighted some of her 
accomplishments and interests over the years, the list is so much 
longer, and I speak from the heart when I say she will be missed. I 
know she will continue to be active on behalf of Iowa's children
  I also know that ISEA will be in good hands as John Hieronymus takes 
over as President. John is a math teacher from Iowa City and has served 
as vice-president of the organization for the past several years. 
Jolene Franken is a tough act to follow, but I know he is more than 
prepared to take on the challenging mission of leading ISEA.

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