[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HELEN DEHNKE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, I am committed to ensuring that all 
children, regardless of socioeconomic background, receive an education 
that gives them the skills to achieve. Head Start, as developed in 
1965, aims to address the educational, emotional, psychological, 
health, social, and nutritional needs of preschool-aged children from 
lower income families. Knowing how critical and beneficial this program 
is for so many families and their kids in western Wisconsin, I have 
consistently supported it.
  Our local Head Start centers and leaders in western Wisconsin have 
served these students extremely well. One of the key components of the 
Head Start program is the quality of teaching it offers to its 
students. Without these teachers, the program could not succeed. Helen 
Dehnke of Mondovi, Wisconsin, embodies the devotion of many Head Start 
teachers. Helen has devoted 36 years of her life to Western Dairyland 
Head Start children and families.
  Helen began her career as a Head Start parent volunteer in 1969 when 
her twins were in the program. The following year, her hard work earned 
her the position of teaching assistant in collaboration with Mondovi 
Day Care, Western Dairyland Head Start, and the Mondovi School 
District. Understanding how important teacher quality is, Helen 
participated in professional development sessions and she earned her 
Child Development Credential in order to serve her students to the best 
of her abilities.
  Helen's hard work has not gone without recognition. Both her students 
and their families are extremely grateful for her 36 years of 
dedication, as am I. Helen is a loving and nurturing teacher, who has 
learned to know her student's exact needs. She has dedicated her life 
to ensure that young children are able to learn in a healthy, 
supportive environment.
  I congratulate Helen on her retirement and thank her for her life's 
dedication to Wisconsin children and families. It is because of her 
work, and the work of her colleagues, that 13,000 Wisconsin preschool-
aged children are enrolled in Head Start. As a result, these children 
will gain an excellent education and acquire the skills necessary to 
succeed in life. I wish Helen all the luck and well-being in the 
future, and it is my hope that her work will inspire others to continue 
to advance teacher qualifications and skills and strengthen the 
cognitive development and literacy of Head Start students.

                          ____________________