[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF KENDRA KASTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2009

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of 
Representatives to join me in bestowing our sincere thanks to Kendra 
Kasten, a woman who has devoted thousands of hours of volunteer service 
to her community and personally helped countless children better their 
reading skills.
  After devoting her professional life to teaching children and her 
precious free-time to lifting others up and never seeking recognition 
herself, Kendra is being duly honored by the Town of Hillsborough, 
California with their ``Community Care Award''.
  The Community Care Award ``honors a person in a salaried position 
with the School District or Town of Hillsborough or other vital 
community role.'' Ms. Kasten is the embodiment of the criteria set 
forth for the award, specifically in regard to having ``made a 
sustained and significant contribution that has broadly touched the 
lives of our children. These contributions are widely recognized as 
having lasting impact to our community.''
  As both a parent and teacher, Kendra Kasten has given her all to the 
betterment of her community. A reading specialist, she currently works 
with Kindergarten to Second Grade students in small groups to help with 
the development of crucial literacy skills. Kendra also teaches weekly 
whole-class lessons to 2nd graders in the area of syllabication.
  Kendra's lesson plans come from years of teaching experience. She 
formalized and organized her experience at the urging of her colleagues 
and used it to benefit all teachers in her school district.
  Madam Speaker, in addition to teaching, this vibrant and amazing 
woman has volunteered in her children's classrooms and the Town Library 
and served on more committees than any one person could possibly 
squeeze into a single lifetime. Her husband, Hillsborough Town 
Councilman Tom Kasten, and children Jeff and Alyssa are fortunate to 
have such a dynamic partner and role model and also deserve our thanks 
for loaning their wife and mother to the community.
  It is with a great deal of pride that I recognize a true community 
leader and selfless volunteer--Ms. Kendra Kasten.

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