[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 134 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MS. JUDITH MAYNARD

   Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary Vermonter, Ms. Judith Maynard, who was recently named a 
National Distinguished Principal. As one of 65 principals chosen 
nationwide, this award places Ms. Maynard in an elite class of 
educators.
  Ms. Maynard has dedicated her life to the education and well-being of 
Vermont children. After working her way through an undergraduate and 
two masters' degrees at the University of Vermont, she launched her 
career as an educator. For the past 26 years, Vermont students have 
benefited from her extraordinary leadership. She has served as the 
principal of Chamberlin School in South Burlington, Vermont for the 
last eleven years and headed the Folsom School in South Hero for 10 
years before that.
  At Chamberlin, Ms. Maynard sought out grant money to hire the 
district's first school social worker--helping prevent problems at home 
from damaging students' performance at school. She has reworked the 
school's curriculum to provide focused, cohesive instruction across 
grade levels. She has made a priority of spending as much time as 
possible with her students, personally tutoring them in math and never 
saying no to those students who want to read a book with her or discuss 
losing a tooth. And she has fought to ensure that her young students 
have access to a nutritious breakfast at school, providing them with 
the fuel they need to successfully get through the school day.
  The impact of her efforts is clear. Standardized test results on 
mathematics problem solving for fourth-graders at her school have 
jumped in the last 2 years from 48 percent achieving the benchmark of 
success in 2002 to 70 percent in 2004. These are impressive gains by 
any measure.
  Ms. Maynard's leadership demonstrates the importance of having 
strong, dedicated principals in each of our schools. Providing vision, 
direction and support to all who work under the schoolhouse roof 
ensures that our children receive the best possible education. Together 
they provide our children with the skills and confidence needed to 
achieve their goals and lead happy, meaningful lives. America's future 
depends on the efforts of exceptional educational leaders like Judith 
Maynard. I congratulate her for her success and salute her for her 
tireless dedication to the children of Vermont.

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