[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO CELIA DUNHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Celia Dunham, a 
talented and dedicated teacher who has been nominated for the Colorado 
State Board of Education's 2005 Teacher of the Year award. Celia has 
demonstrated a strong passion and devotion to educating our youth in 
one of our most important occupations for 31 years. It is a privilege 
to stand here today before this body of Congress and this Nation and 
honor her impeccable record of service.
  Celia's initial decision to become a teacher came from her experience 
with a pilot program teaching inner city kids in college. It was here 
that she learned the important difference that teachers make everyday 
in the lives of their students--a mantra that continues to influence 
her teaching today. Celia is a firm advocate of engaging students, 
parents and teachers in a partnership to allow students to achieve 
their full potential. To attain that goal, she has worked to create 
caring, respectful environments that encourage kids to take 
responsibility for their own learning. Her position as a role model for 
her students epitomizes the positive attitude about education that is 
necessary for a successful teacher.
  Over the course of Celia's work in Steamboat Springs, she has been 
heavily involved with planning place-based education that builds 
student appreciation for the culture and heritage of their community. 
She also contributed significantly to the development of a K through 12 
standards-based curriculum that concentrates on individual, on-going 
assessments that meets academic goals early in a student's career to 
make them successful in the future. The program is a proven success as 
the Colorado Student Assessment Program scores for Celia's school are 
consistently above the state average, and the school has been 
recognized twice as a Colorado School of Excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, Celia Dunham is an intelligent, caring and devoted 
teacher who always puts her students first. Her commitment to the 
teaching profession is unremitting and it would be a great honor for 
Colorado to be blessed with her continued leadership as Colorado's 2005 
Teacher of the Year. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress 
and this Nation today and recognize her longstanding dedication to the 
teaching profession. Thank you for your service Celia, and I wish you 
all the best in your future endeavors.

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