[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 82 (Thursday, June 22, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S6414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  KATHLEEN MIRABILE RECEIVES OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF AMERICAN HISTORY 
                                 AWARD

 Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and 
commend an outstanding teacher from New Hampshire, Kathleen Mirabile, 
winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, Outstanding 
Teacher of American History Award.
  Mrs. Mirabile has dedicated the past 45 years to teaching Social 
Studies and U.S. History in two public high schools in Manchester, NH. 
She continues to share her in-depth understanding of the democratic 
system of government in our country with students every year.
  Throughout her 45 years in the Manchester school system, she has come 
to intimately understand and personify the concept of living history as 
she has opened students' minds to endless possibilities. She subscribes 
to the theory that in order to be loyal to our country today, one must 
be keenly aware of the history that has shaped the extraordinary 
foundation upon which our country and our government were built. She 
has made it her goal to ensure students understand the impact that 
history has on them today and, conversely, the impact that today will 
have on history.
  Entrenched in her belief that every citizen ought to be a student of 
U.S. history, Mrs. Mirabile has remained a student throughout her 
entire teaching career--completing graduate studies at the University 
of New Hampshire and Boston College, as well as participating in 
countless educational conferences, institutes, and fellowship programs 
ranging from the National Endowment for the Humanities to Harvard 
University, allowing her to further her own education as a student 
while simultaneously enriching her teaching knowledge.
  Mrs. Mirabile has taken her passion for history outside of the 
classroom and required school hours. Beyond her role as a teacher in 
the high school classroom, Mrs. Mirabile has shared her time and her 
life with members of the Granite State community by participating and 
assuming important leadership and advisory roles in numerous 
educational societies, extracurricular activities, and professional 
organizations, furthering her own development and gaining the respect 
and friendship of her students and peers alike.
  Teachers like Mrs. Mirabile exemplify the greatest asset in the 
educational system in our country--dedicated and devoted teachers who 
take tremendous pride in preparing generations of students to 
participate in the American dream. Her commitment to her students and 
the entire community serves as a great role model for everyone around 
her, and she certainly is deserving of the DAR Outstanding Teacher of 
American History Award. I congratulate her on this recognition and 
commend her for her excellence in teaching and the overwhelmingly 
positive effect she has had on her students and her community.
 Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, I also wish to recognize an 
outstanding teacher from New Hampshire who will be honored next month 
with the Daughters of the American Revolution's, DAR, Outstanding 
Teacher of American History Award.
  Kathleen Mirabile has taught history and social studies in 
Manchester, New Hampshire's public schools for nearly four decades. 
Through her strong commitment to lifelong learning, Mrs. Mirabile has 
inspired generations of students in the Queen City. Having contributed 
conspicuously to the life of her community, Mrs. Mirabile has earned 
the respect of her peers and students--which is reflected in her 
nomination by the DAR's Molly Stark Chapter in Manchester to receive 
this prestigious national award.
  A democratic nation such as ours requires informed, active citizens 
who are able to think critically about complex issues. Knowledge and 
understanding of American history is therefore essential to ensuring a 
thoughtful citizenry that is capable of the responsibility of self-
government. During her long service as a teacher, at Manchester High 
School Central and Manchester Memorial High School, Mrs. Mirabile has 
worked to convey these enduring truths as part of her classroom 
instruction.
  Mindful of the necessity of being prepared to compete in today's 
society, Mrs. Mirabile has set high standards for her students. 
Although she has taught students who represent a range of academic 
ability--including those in her advanced placement U.S. history 
course--Mrs. Mirabile has consistently pushed them to achieve beyond 
their limits. In doing so, she has helped her students to mature as 
learners and as individuals.
  A central component of Mrs. Mirabile's approach to teaching--one that 
distinguishes her--has been to remain a student of history herself. As 
part of that commitment, she completed graduate studies at the 
University of New Hampshire and at Boston College; additionally, Mrs. 
Mirabile has pursued study through the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, the U.S. Department of Education, and at Harvard 
University. These experiences have broadened her knowledge, and have 
helped to make her a more thoughtful, engaging teacher.
  Mrs. Mirabile also brings her extensive experience working with the 
Manchester Historic Association, MHA, to the classroom. Manchester, 
which was home to the world famous Amoskeag Mills, is a city that is 
rich in history and culture. As an MHA leader, Mrs. Mirabile has taken 
her intimate knowledge of Manchester and made the City a history 
classroom for her students. Through such hands-on learning, Mrs. 
Mirabile's students are shown that history lessons are not confined to 
text books; that history is alive in our communities.
  Having distinguished herself as a talented and committed educator who 
has made a difference in the lives of her students, Mrs. Mirabile has 
set a standard to which other teachers may aspire. I am pleased to join 
her many friends and admirers--at Central High School, in the city of 
Manchester, and with the Molly Stark Chapter--in extending 
congratulations to her for being honored by the DAR for a long career 
of excellence in teaching.




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