[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 55 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2305-H2306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       KARA POE ALEXANDER, PH.D.

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I request permission to take Mr. Jones' place.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, when born in the hot humid heat of a Texas 
August in 1976, she was called a bicentennial baby in honor of 
America's 200th birthday. She was the second of four children and grew 
up with that second child competitive determination.
  She was strongly serious as she went to elementary school. While 
enjoying playing with her siblings, Kim, Kurt and Kellee Lyn, she also 
liked irritating the older next-door-neighbor boy.
  While growing up, Kara learned and liked to plant vegetables and to 
take care of a large family garden. But upon entering elementary 
school, she spoke some words with difficulty, and her speech patterns 
were not really satisfactory. This began to affect her socially and 
really bruised her young self-image.
  Her third grade teacher at the Oaks Elementary School in Humble, 
Texas, was determined to help this little girl and worked with her in 
pronouncing those English words correctly. This little girl, Kara, 
overcame this issue and speaks perfect English with an exceptional 
Texas accent, another of America's dedicated school teachers helping 
out one child at a time.
  Anyway, Kara played on soccer teams and was on the swim team with her 
brother and sisters. They spent

[[Page H2306]]

those long Saturdays competing at swim meets all over North Houston. 
Kara not only took to sports but academics in high school. She lettered 
4 years in basketball, was the team captain, high scorer her senior 
year and played in the Texas State playoffs. Volleyball and 
cheerleading were also activities she enjoyed and participated in.
  After doing some babysitting jobs at 15, Kara applied to work at a 
local Target store while in school. On her job application, she was 
asked about her job experiences and reason for leaving her previous 
job. So she put, quote, ``last job, baby sitting.'' Reason for leaving, 
quote, ``Kids were brats.'' Blunt truth got her the job.
  She continued to tell it like it was, even to this day. At Target, 
Kara Poe learned how to deal with real people in the real world by 
working as a cashier. She doesn't like to admit it, but she even held 
the long-time record as the fastest scanner. She has continued her 
studies and studied endlessly. She played high school sports, and has 
continued to work and save as much money as she possibly can.
  By the way, Mr. Speaker, Kara graduated valedictorian from her high 
school, Northland Christian High School in Houston, Texas. Kara, like 
all the Poe kids, went to Abilene Christian University, and she worked 
while in college and still was able to graduate with a grade point 
average of 3.88 with a B.S. in interdisciplinary studies, English and 
history.
  Quite opinionated on all subjects, especially politics and sports, 
being an avid Astros fan, she loves the freedoms and loves this 
country.
  She went on to get her Master's degree at Abilene Christian 
University in English, and her GPA was a perfect 4.0. She got married 
to a guy by the name of Shane Alexander; I was honored to perform that 
wedding. She has a 10-month-old daughter named Elizabeth.
  Mr. Speaker, this Saturday that little girl who had trouble with 
speech in third grade will receive her doctoral degree from the 
University of Louisville in rhetoric and composition. She has a GPA of 
3.92.
  At 29, she obtained her doctoral degree in less than 4 years, a 
marvelous amount of time and a short time for obtaining a doctorate.
  She already has a job at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and she 
will be teaching on the tenured track. She will be teaching English, 
Mr. Speaker, and she will be a teacher like her mother, both her 
grandmothers and her sister, Kim.
  So, Kara, as your dad, I am proud of your determination, commitment 
and attitude. Congratulations to you for your success in the field and 
noble field of education and being a teacher. Congratulations to you 
for your success in life.
  That's just the way it is.

                          ____________________