[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 88 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1353-E1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING DISNEY TEACHER AWARD HONOREE LYNN ASTARITA GATTO

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, Aristotle once said ``All who have 
meditated on the art

[[Page E1354]]

of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires 
depends on the education of youth.''
  With this wisdom in mind, I rise today to honor an outstanding New 
York State teacher, Lynn Astarita Gatto, and to congratulate her on 
being chosen as a recipient of the 2006 Disney Teacher Award. Ms. Gatto 
is a second grade teacher at Henry Hudson Elementary No. 28, a school 
located in my Congressional district.
  Each year a select group of teachers across the country are chosen as 
Disney honorees by a group of their peers that includes representatives 
from leading educational institutions and former Disney award honorees. 
This year, 44 winners were chosen out of a field of over 75,000 
teachers. Ms. Gatto was among this elite group and is being 
acknowledged for her creativity, innovative teaching methods, and 
ability to inspire students.
  An educator for over 30 years, Ms. Gatto has devoted her life to the 
betterment of children. Her life-long service warrants particular 
praise because she has spent the majority of her career in an urban 
school largely made up of children from low-income families and those 
struggling with poverty. Ms. Gatto has chosen to focus her energy on 
students with differing abilities and has provided them with the tools 
needed for building successful futures.
  In addition to her innovative work at Henry Hudson Elementary, Ms. 
Gatto has published articles in teacher journals, contributed to 
academic books, and written science modules for elementary school 
students. Each spring, she teaches a course at the University of 
Rochester's Warner School of Education on the theory and learning of 
elementary science. Ms. Gatto was also recognized in 2004 for her 
excellence in teaching when she was chosen as the New York State 
Teacher of the Year.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again ask that you join me in congratulating Ms. 
Lynn Astarita Gatto on being selected as a Disney Teacher Award honoree 
and for her tireless efforts to empower her students. She is a role 
model to educators, and an inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________