[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 16 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO TAMMI MACKEBEN

 Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize one of my 
constituents, Tammi Mackeben, who has been named the 2008 School 
Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association. 
Mrs. Mackeben was also named the Texas Multi-Level School Counselor of 
the year by the Texas School Counselor Association in 2007.
  The School Counselor of the Year contest is open to all 100,000 
members of the school counseling profession. Mrs. Mackeben was 
nominated for this award by Principal Ricardo Damian and was evaluated 
by a select panel of industry experts on several criteria including: 
creative school counseling innovations, effective counseling programs, 
leadership skills and their contribution to student advancement. Mrs. 
Mackeben is 1 of 10 finalists from across the Nation, and the only 
representative from Texas.
  Mrs. Mackeben has worked as a counselor at the Ernesto Serna Two Way 
Dual Language School in El Paso, TX, for 7 years. She and her colleague 
Norma Guerra are responsible for counseling close to 700 students in 
grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Mrs. Mackeben works with 
students in the sixth through eighth grades, helping them to navigate 
personal and academic challenges, and preparing them to continue their 
education in high school. Both Mrs. Mackeben and Ms. Guerra have 
implemented Comprehensive Developmental Guidance and Counseling on 
their campus. The Guidance and Counseling Program received the CREST 
Award--Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas--from 
the Texas School Counselor Association and the RAMP Award--Recognized 
ASCA Model Program--from the American School Counselor Association 
during the 2006-2007 school year.
  The guidance, support and compassion that Mrs. Mackeben shares in her 
daily work is perhaps one of the best gifts a teacher can offer to her 
students. For all this and for being such a great Texan, I can only 
say: Thank You, Mrs. Mackeben!

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