[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MR. CARL RICCOBONO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding 
educational leader, Carl Riccobono.
  Today, The Creative Coalition and The American Federation of Teachers 
honor Mr. Riccobono with a 2005 Spotlight Award for Teaching 
Excellence.
  The Creative Coalition is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan, social 
and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment 
community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative 
community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating and 
mobilizing its members on issues of public importance, primarily public 
education, the First Amendment, arts advocacy, and runaway production. 
Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices 
in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
  The Creative Coalition's partner in presenting this award, The 
American Federation of Teachers, represents 1.3 million teachers, 
paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel, higher education 
faculty and staff, healthcare workers, and state and local government 
employees.
  Joining Mr. Riccobono in Washington, DC, to accept his award is one 
of his former students, actor and member of The Creative Coalition, 
Steve Buscemi. Mr. Buscemi was a student in Mr. Riccobono's fourth 
grade class at Shaw Avenue Elementary School, a public school in Valley 
Stream, New York, over 30 years ago. Mr. Riccobono profoundly 
influenced Mr. Buscemi as well as countless other students over the 
past three decades. He has shown a tremendous commitment to the field 
of teaching.
  I join Mr. Riccobono's family, friends, and colleagues in 
congratulating him today on this achievement and wishing him well. I 
also recognize both The Creative Coalition and The American Federation 
of Teachers for their dedication in promoting public education. Public 
schools and the teachers in them play an essential role in the guidance 
of our children and shaping of our future. As such, I commend The 
Creative Coalition and The American Federation of Teachers for their 
support of public schools and for honoring the achievements of 
educators like Mr. Riccobono.

                          ____________________