[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E893-E894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DR. ELSA GESKUS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 2009

  Mr. GERLACH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated 
educator whose outstanding leadership and guidance has prepared 
countless teachers for rewarding classroom careers. Dr. Elsa Geskus 
will be retiring from Kutztown University in Berks County, Pennsylvania 
after serving the last 12 years as Chairwoman of the Elementary 
Education Department. She has earned the respect of her fellow faculty 
members for excellent leadership, scholarship and service.
  Colleagues also praised Dr. Geskus for securing national 
accreditation for the Department and authoring an accreditation report

[[Page E894]]

used as a model for colleges and universities throughout the country by 
the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
  Another highlight of her tenure at Kutztown was establishing the 
Philadelphia Masters in Elementary Education Graduate Program. This 
program helped 64 Philadelphia teachers obtain master degrees from 
Kutztown and led to developing similar programs for teachers in Reading 
and Allentown.
  Outside of the classroom, Dr. Geskus was active in several national 
organizations, including the Middle States Steering Committee, National 
Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the College of Education.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the 
distinguished career of Dr. Elsa Geskus and all who commit themselves 
to teaching others.

                          ____________________