[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE TO AUDREY FERGUSON, 2002-2003 TEACHER OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2003

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Audrey Ferguson, 
a teacher at the Laclede Elementary School in the St. Louis Public 
School system and winner of the 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year Award.
  Ms. Ferguson is the first teacher from the St. Louis Public Schools 
to win Missouri's Teacher of the Year Award since its inception 50 
years ago. Ms. Ferguson has been teaching for 32 years and has held her 
current post at Laclede Elementary School for 26 years.
  Also, it should be noted that this year Laclede Elementary School 
received the distinction of being named a Gold Star School, making it 
one of the top 15 elementary schools in the state of Missouri. So you 
see, success at the school is more than personal, it is systemic.
  Ms. Ferguson's major subject area is mathematics, in grades 1-5. 
Also, she is certified to teach English and social studies and has 
certifications for teaching students with learning disabilities, 
students who are mentally handicapped and students with behavior 
disorders.
  When Ms. Ferguson was 9 years old she was sent to a reading clinic to 
assist her with her difficulty in reading. In four years she 
transformed herself from a non-reading student into one who was well on 
her way to becoming an honor roll student. She chose to follow in the 
footsteps of the teachers in the reading clinic and became an educator 
in order to do for others what they had done for her.
  In her own words, ``Teachers have been given the awesome 
responsibility of preparing the Nation's leaders of tomorrow. Teachers 
must know that they are the gatekeepers of opportunity for millions of 
children. `` We have the power to open doors that lead to great futures 
and we have the power to cut off access to the pathways that lead to 
the top,'' she said.
  Ms. Ferguson has received numerous awards--the ``Parent of the Year 
Award'' from INROADS, St. Louis in 1994; she is listed in the Marquis' 
Who's Who of American Women, 21st Edition; and was also among the ``100 
Women Children's Advocate for 2001'' produced by the Annie Malone 
Children's Home.
  In December of 1981, she published a method of mathematical 
instruction in the NCTM Arithmetic Teacher's Journal called the 
``Stored Ten'' method. Laclede teachers have used her method for many 
years since.
  In addition to her work for the school, Ms. Ferguson has been an 
involved member of the community. She served as president for the 
INROADS PSG for one year as well as a membership chairperson for 
several years; volunteers annually for the United Negro College Fund 
Walk; and worked on community partnerships such as the ``Laclede Book 
Buddy Program,'' the ``Laclede Parent Partners Program,'' the ``Laclede 
Parent Day Trip Program,'' and the ``Laclede Community/School Garden 
Project.''
  Clearly, Ms. Ferguson has acted with great determination in uniting 
school and community.
  Also, Ms. Ferguson has been involved in many workshops and 
conferences aimed at improving the quality of education, including but 
not limited to: The Successful Schools Information and Planning 
Meetings, the MAP Math Training Meetings and the NCTM Conference and 
the Title I Conference.
  As evidence of her unrelenting pursuit of education, she recently 
received District Recognition for improving Math MAP Scores.
  From her beginnings as a student in need of extra help to her current 
status as a devoted life-long educator, Ms. Ferguson has earned the 
Teacher of the Year Award through hard work and determination.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Ms. Audrey Ferguson and 
thanking her for her devotion to the children of the St. Louis Public 
school system and the children of America.

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