[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

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                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 2009

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 
more than 40,000 teachers from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties during 
National Teacher Appreciation Week, taking place this year from May 3 
through May 9, 2009.
  This week all across America, our Nation's schoolchildren, their 
parents, PTAs and others are gathering to show their appreciation for 
the professional educators who work every day to make their futures 
brighter. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to stop and 
pay tribute to the profession that shapes the world of tomorrow. Madam 
Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the lasting 
contributions that these men and women make to the lives of thousands 
of students in South Florida.
  Today, I am pleased to commend the efforts of two special teachers in 
my district: Tony Dutra, a reading teacher from the Hallandale 
Community Center in Hallandale, Florida, teaches Extraordinary Student 
Education. When he was a student Mr. Dutra was learning disabled so he 
understands the challenges his student go through on a daily basis. Mr. 
Dutra was named Broward County's public school teacher of the year.
  Patricia Fairclough, a second grade teacher from Airbase Elementary 
School in Homestead, Florida, was Miami-Dade County's public school 
teacher of the year. As a first-grader, Patricia struggled in class, 
but she was inspired by a caring teacher and now she is helping other 
children who need a little extra tough love.
  I hope that you will all join me in thanking Mr. Dutra and Ms. 
Fairclough and all of our nation's teachers for everything they do each 
and every day to encourage, instruct and guide our students. All of 
America's teachers deserve more than a week of recognition for their 
investment in our country's most precious resource, our children.
  Too often teachers are overworked and underpaid. They spend long 
hours in the classroom, many hours after the school day coaching our 
kids and leading their extracurricular groups, and then go home to 
spend more time grading papers.
  Teachers invest their own lives in the lives of our children, and 
every day they empower young people with the knowledge and tools needed 
to be successful and confident. America's future is in the hands of our 
children and we owe our teachers a universe of thanks for their hard 
work.

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