[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2864-E2865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING KIM JAKOVICS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend Kim Jakovics, a 
social studies teacher at Annapolis High School in Maryland, for 
winning the Milken Educator Award. Since 1987, this prestigious award 
has been given annually to honor teachers who have distinguished 
themselves in their incredibly important and challenging field. Of the 
fifty-three teachers across the nation to be awarded this prize, she is 
the sole recipient from Maryland. Mrs. Jakovics was selected because of 
the immeasurable impact she has had on her students. Michael Milken, 
co-founder of the foundation, said of her instruction, ``Students' 
self-image changed, their aspirations changed. Students were different 
after that experience.''
  For the past six years, Mrs. Jakovics' dedication to her students has 
made them feel more confident to aim for loftier goals. She has been 
effective in leading classrooms full of students at different skill 
levels and embraced the challenge of teaching diverse groups.
  Because of teachers like Mrs. Jakovics, Annapolis High School has 
experienced a dramatic improvement in student results. For five years 
the school failed to meet state testing standards. Over the last two 
years, however, the school has met standards and been removed from 
Maryland's troubled schools watch list. The dedication of teachers like 
Mrs. Jakovics is what makes such a dramatic turnaround possible.
  I hope Mrs. Jakovics will inspire other talented individuals to enter 
the field of teaching. Once again, I congratulate Mrs. Jakovics and 
wish her the best of luck.

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