[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2470-E2471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO CEE SALBERG--RECIPIENT OF 2009 ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE AWARDS, 
                          SACRED HEART SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 2009

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Cee Salberg, a 
recipient of the prestigious St. Madeleine Sophie Award from Sacred 
Heart Schools. Established in the year 2000, the St. Madeleine Sophie 
Award honors individuals in the Sacred Heart community who have made a 
sustained and significant contribution to the Schools and embody the 
Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. The individuals honored 
are selected by a committee comprised of the senior administrative team 
in conjunction with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and are honored 
at a reception and at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, the first all-school 
liturgy of the school year. The recipients will be VIP guests at 
various SHS events throughout the year and featured in their alumni 
magazine, The Heart of the Matter, for their commitment to the mission 
of Sacred Heart education.
  This year, Cee Salberg was chosen along with two other distinguished 
recipients to be recognized with the Award for her tireless work as an 
educator as well as to the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. 
Her award was presented by Mr. James Everitt, who gave this speech at 
the Awards Ceremony in tribute to Cee:

       I am still a little unclear as to why Cee Salberg asked me 
     to introduce her for this prestigious award. I cannot figure 
     out if she asked me to do her this honor because I don't 
     actually work in the pre-school and Kindergarten so, 
     therefore, I don't really know how she behaves on a daily 
     basis. Or, if it is because she knows that I am afraid of her 
     and that it is unlikely that I will share anything other than 
     the most positive sentiments about her. In any case, tonight 
     we get to celebrate a wonderful and a brilliant educator.
       I am so thrilled to be able to introduce Cee Salberg for 
     the St. Madeleine Sophie Award tonight. As I understand it, 
     this award is given to those who have committed themselves to 
     Sacred Heart Schools and who embody the Spirit of St. 
     Madeleine Sophie Barat. For those of you who know Cee it is 
     clear to you why she is the winner of this award. Put quite 
     simply . . .
       Cee has the vision of Sophie.
       Cee has the courage of Sophie.
       Cee has the generosity of Sophie.
       Cee has the direct communication style of Sophie.
       And most importantly, Cee has the single-hearted love of 
     children that we believe is the most important characteristic 
     of Sophie's own life and legacy.
       I believe it is this last characteristic that has landed 
     Cee here this evening. Cee has a single-hearted love of 
     children that is awe inspiring for those who work closely 
     with her and for those whose children have been in the pre-
     school and kindergarten. If you speak to children who 
     attended our Montessori program they will tell you that they 
     love Ms. Salberg. One high school student told me that Ms. 
     Salberg is the kindest woman that she knows.
       However, let me get something clear from the beginning. I 
     am not suggesting that Cee is touchy-feely or that she has 
     never been accused of being aloof or unfriendly. She is in 
     fact, sometimes scary for parents and other adults. As Rich 
     Dioli recently said to me, ``Cee may not say hi to every 
     parent who walks through the door but she knows every kid by 
     name and she is the best educator we have.'' I have several 
     funny anecdotes about times when Cee has scared me but I will 
     save those for her retirement roast in about 15 years.
       After Cee invited me to introduce her, which I am sure she 
     is now regretting, I started asking people about her and why 
     they felt that she should be the recipient of this award. I 
     had a great time. People feel very strongly about Cee and 
     almost every person I spoke with, particularly those that 
     work in the preschool and kindergarten, made it clear that 
     they are thrilled that she is receiving this award. And they 
     feel strongly about her for four reasons: because she loves 
     scotch, because she loves the San Francisco Giants, because 
     she keeps chocolate stocked in the faculty room and, most 
     importantly, because everything she does--every day--is about 
     the children that walk through the doors of the Montessori 
     building. I was tempted to summarize what people said about 
     Cee but perhaps I should just report some of the thoughts 
     that Cee's colleagues have about her. . .
       Cee has always been available to me when I needed advice, a 
     sounding board, or a kind shoulder on which to cry. She has 
     helped me navigate the Sacred Heart experience. She has been 
     a constant beacon for all of us.
       Cee has a loving and giving heart. She is committed to the 
     mission of the school; to economic, social, and ethnic 
     diversity and she is an educational leader that works very 
     closely with her teachers to ensure that the students are 
     being loved and having success in the classroom.
       Cee travels the world to learn about other cultures and 
     enhances her own life to better understand humanity.
       Cee is kind.
       Cee believes in our mission and does everything possible to 
     instill the mission of the school in the children.
       Each decision Cee makes is for the children.
       Although some say she is not warm and fuzzy--my entire 
     family adores her. She is there for the children and that is 
     what matters.
       Cee cares about every child in her school--no matter what.
       Cee teaches the children independence, respect, kindness, 
     understanding, and thoughtfulness--everything a parent wants 
     in a child.
       Cee is not a woman of many words but she hears all.
       Cee always has the perfect outfit for every occasion; 
     classy and elegant.
       Cee will bend down and pick up every last scrap of liter 
     under the lunch tables.
       Cee is organized, efficient and thrives on order--the 
     preschool runs like a well oiled machine under her control.
       Cee is a blessing; a wonderful leader for the parents, 
     children and her staff--I feel proud to be a member of her 
     staff.
       Cee has always based her goals for the Montessori on the 
     Goals and Criteria.
       Cee has led us to be a faculty that values professional 
     growth, love of God and one another, and social justice.
       Cee encourages teachers to keep up on all the newest 
     information in teaching and often gives us professional 
     articles, internet sites, and always encourages us to attend 
     classes and workshops.
       Cee has a professional commitment to get to know each 
     student at the Montessori. She spends from 12:15p.m. to 1:00 
     p.m. at recess each day, observing and interacting with the 
     children.
       Cee always encourages early intervention when students are 
     having difficulties socially, emotionally, or academically.
       Most importantly Cee has dedicated her years here to boost 
     our financial aid, based on her value of social justice. We 
     now have many wonderful students who would not have been able 
     to attend Sacred Heart without Cee's dedication to financial 
     aid increases.
       I am guessing that by now you have gotten the point. Cee is 
     wonderful. In fact, she sounds almost perfect. So, let me 
     share with you some of her shortcomings. Just kidding Cee.
       I do, however, want to share with you how I feel about Cee 
     Salberg.
       It is unlikely that you will ever hear Cee give a speech 
     about God, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat or the Mission of the 
     School. It would surprise me to find Cee in a large group 
     talking about the latest instructional strategies or arguing 
     about pedagogical methods. It is rare that you will find Cee 
     making loud protests against injustice. It is unusual to hear 
     Cee gossiping about a colleague or undermining the work of 
     her peers. I can almost guarantee that you won't find Cee 
     creating arbitrary policies that prevent a child's growth.
       But in my experience you will . . .
       Find Cee hugging her students and making sure that they 
     feel loved.
       Find Cee allocating resources for teacher development and 
     creating an environment at the Montessori in which student 
     interest drives student learning and achievement.
       Find Cee fighting for financial aid and non-tuition related 
     financial aid so that all students have access to a Sacred 
     Heart education.
       Find Cee confronting parents and colleagues who do things 
     that don't build community. And, you will find the kind joy 
     and

[[Page E2471]]

     laughter in the Montessori building that is at the very heart 
     of building community.
       And, my favorite, you will find Cee on vacation in the 
     middle of the school year because she values balance in her 
     life and she understands the importance of her family.
       I was not surprised to learn that Cee was nominated and 
     ultimately selected to be one of the St. Madeleine Sophie 
     Award winners. Cee has been an amazing mentor to me and I can 
     say from the very depth of my being that I have learned more 
     from Cee Salberg about teaching and learning and about what 
     it means to be a Sacred Heart educator than from any other 
     person in my career. Cee is a woman who St. Madeleine Sophie 
     Barat and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne would recognize as one 
     of their own.
       I want to end by reading a nice poem that was written by a 
     member of Cee's staff.

     There once was a principal named Cee
     As good at her job as she could be.
     She juggles admins, parents, kids and teachers,
     But she'd rather be cheering in the bleachers
     For the San Francisco Giants, her favorite team.
     Soon, the World Series? Hey, a girl can dream!
     Cee and Keir travel to many a port.
     And luckily, Janet can hold down the fort.
     At work and at home, Cee has a great crew.
     She's the captain, she knows what to do!
     For Cee to get this award, we're all very proud,
     And not a bit shy to say right out loud:
     She deserves this award and can pass any test.
     All of us know that Cee is the best!

       Cee, it is a true honor and pleasure to be your friend and 
     your colleague. I look forward to celebrating your retirement 
     with you in about 15-20 years.
       Congratulations.

  Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me 
in offering our congratulations to Cee Salberg on the very special 
occasion of being chosen for the St. Madeleine Sophie Award, and for 
all she does daily to strengthen our community and our country.

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