[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING NANCY CROSS OF FOREST HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPON HER 
                               RETIREMENT

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2005

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. Nancy Cross 
in recognition for her commitment and dedication to the youth of School 
District 101 in Illinois. For over 30 years, Ms. Cross has devoted her 
time to students and families of the Third Congressional District. Now, 
as she prepares for retirement, we would like to thank her for her 
countless years of fine service.
  For the last thirty-six years, Ms. Cross has spent her life educating 
the residents of Illinois School District 101, first at the John 
Laidlaw Elementary School, and for the past twenty-four years at Forest 
Hills Elementary School, both located in Western Springs. At Forest 
Hills, Ms. Cross not only serves in a teaching capacity for the fifth 
grade, but also as the Head Teacher, who is second in command. In this 
position, she has been willing to help her principal in any capacity, 
especially by running the school in the principal's absence.
  However, Ms. Cross's main contribution has been to her students, 
helping them learn how to enjoy reading. A bibliophile herself, Ms. 
Cross has shown through her own dedication to the written word and the 
imaginative world of books, that reading can be not only productive but 
enjoyable and engaging. She is often found reading to her students, and 
this exercise has left an indelible mark on many of them who still 
remember those class times spent listening to Ms. Cross.
  Because of Ms. Cross's undeniable love for books and her ability to 
shape the minds of her young students, she has been an outstanding 
teacher for over thirty years, expanding and encouraging all of her 
students to reach as far as they can. It is a certainty that our entire 
community will feel a loss left by the retirement of Ms. Cross.
  The parents and children of School District 101 are fortunate to have 
had such an energetic and devoted teacher like Ms. Cross. Through her 
dedication and love of educating the young minds of this country, Ms. 
Cross has made a difference and should be recognized for her 
outstanding and selfless contributions to our nation's youth and their 
families, especially the students and families of Western Springs.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Nancy Cross as 
an outstanding educator who has had a distinguished career. She has 
done nothing less than an extraordinary job preparing America's future 
generations. We thank and congratulate her for an extraordinary career, 
and we wish her well in retirement.

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