[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHARLENE BUTLER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, teachers are special people, and I 
rise today to pay tribute to Charlene Butler who, after 37 years of 
dedicated service, has decided to leave this select group.
  Charlene Butler was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is a proud 
graduate of Booker T. Washington Senior High School. She attended 
Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida and earned a Bachelor 
of Science degree. She went on to obtain her Master of Education degree 
from Nova University.
  Her teaching career began in 1966 at Lorah Park Elementary in Miami, 
at a time when black educators were traditionally assigned to teach at 
historically black schools. In 1970, the federal court ordered all 
schools to integrate and she was transferred to Sunset Elementary 
School.
  In 1984, the staff of Sunset Elementary bestowed one of the highest 
recognitions a staff can bestow upon a colleague when they named her 
Teacher of the Year. She remained at Sunset Elementary for 18 years, 
though throughout her tenure at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Ms. 
Butler has taught at Lorah Park Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Phyllis 
Wheatley Elementary and finally, the Phylllis R. Miller Elementary 
School, where she presently teaches.
  Ms. Butler is an adept, concerned, ardent educator and a champion for 
the ``little ones.'' Blessed with a keen appreciation for the stages of 
development of her young charges, she was dubbed the ``historian'' of 
her students accomplishments.
  Ms. Butler's dedication, loyalty, compassion, and involvement will be 
missed at Phyllis R. Miller Elementary School, by parents, colleagues, 
administrators and students alike.
  Congratulations, Ms. Butler, and enjoy your retirement.

                          ____________________