[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING JEANNA WALKER

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                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2010

  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Portage 
Northern High School Library Media Center and Media Center Specialist 
Jeanna Walker for being selected by the American Association of School 
Libraries as the most outstanding library program in the State of 
Michigan and one of the top 35 programs in the nation.
  The media center was remodeled last summer to fully envision the goal 
of delivering 21st century skills to both students and teachers. With a 
media classroom and three classroom areas all equipped with the 
technology-enhanced classroom model, the media center and learning 
commons are overflowing with teaching and learning on a daily basis. 
The media center is an active learning environment for the student 
population and is being used by approximately 4,000 students per week.
  The media center's cutting-edge technology gives students the 
opportunity to work with and learn from off campus groups and 
experiences. With the help of social studies teacher Stacie Phillips, 
Jeanna Walker teamed with Western Michigan University's Haworth College 
of Business to bring online collaborative tools to Portage Northern 
American history classes. Also, access to live video conference 
capability gave students the ability to watch an autopsy through the 
Columbus Center for Science and Industry.
  In honor of this national recognition, the media center will be 
featured on the American Association of School Libraries Vision Tour, 
an initiative by the association's President, Dr. Nancy Everhart, to 
visit school media centers across the United States in order to provide 
the public with examples of what exceptional school media centers offer 
students and communities.
  On behalf of all residents of southwest Michigan, congratulations 
again to the Portage Northern High School Library Media Center, Media 
Specialist Jeanna Walker, and the entire Portage Community on this 
worthy achievement. Go Huskies!

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