[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 100 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF CHUCK ESTEP, WINNER OF THE 2008 CABLE'S LEADERS IN LEARNING 
                        GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

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                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Chuck Estep for 
being chosen as a finalist for the 2008 Cable's Leaders in Learning 
Award for General Excellence. This honor is bestowed annually by Cable 
in the Classroom, the cable industry's education foundation which 
promotes the use of cable and technology in schools across the country. 
Every year, they honor those in the education field who demonstrate 
leadership skills by using technology to transform the way we teach our 
students. Through his work as a Curriculum Resource Consultant in the 
Monroe County Intermediate School District, Chuck Estep certainly meets 
this criterion, and is worthy of such high praise.
  We all know what an important role field trips play in our 
educational system. Not only do they expose children to new ideas and 
experiences, but they also promote a hands-on style of learning that is 
vital to keeping our children engaged in their schoolwork. Faced with a 
tight budget that was unable to accommodate expenses for field trips, 
Mr. Estep used his technological skills to overcome the problem. He set 
up a system of virtual field trips in conjunction with the Monroe 
County Historical Museum. This allowed students to ask questions in 
real time to an expert at the museum about the rich history of Monroe 
County. Specifically, one virtual field trip discussed the Battle of 
the River Raisin, which occurred in Monroe County during the War of 
1812. Museum staff showed the students what dress from that period 
looked like and they discussed the positions of both sides during the 
war. Students in the district would not have been able to have such an 
enriching experience without the work of Chuck Estep.
  The Battle of the River Raisin is arguably the most violent battle on 
continental U.S. soil outside of the Civil War, a fact many residents 
in Monroe and Michigan are unaware of. This virtual field trip paid 
special attention to the great role that this Battle played in the War 
of 1812, ensuring that the heritage and history of Monroe County will 
live on through today's students.
  In this age of technology, we must strive to integrate all of the 
cutting edge tools that are available to us into our educational 
system. Doing so will create vibrant and engaging teaching methods that 
will keep our children interested in learning. Chuck Estep has 
certainly demonstrated this capacity for innovation, and for this he 
should be commended. I am proud to represent him here in Congress. I 
congratulate him on being chosen as a winner for Cable's Leaders in 
Learning Award for General Excellence Award, because he truly deserves 
it.

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