[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E129-E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING PAUL KARAFIOL ON RECEIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR 
             EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2011

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Paul 
Karafiol, an educator at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, on 
receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and 
Science Teaching. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics 
and Science Teaching is administered by the National Science Foundation 
on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
Awardees are selected by a panel of scientists for their prowess in 
teaching pre-college-level science and mathematics. I am elated that 
Mr. Karafiol received this distinguished honor for the caliber of his 
teaching of math. His ability to convey mathematics concepts to 
students in clear and interesting ways provides a great benefit to 
Chicago, and the Presidential award is a well-earned recognition of his 
skill.
  Mr. Karafiol is a Chicago native and Chicago Public School graduate. 
He received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Harvard University 
and his master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. 
Mr. Karafiol has always had a love for math. As a youth, he was on the 
Math Team at the Kenwood Academy. His first summer jobs involved 
working as a junior staff member in math programs for talented students 
held at the University of Chicago, Hampshire College, and ENSAE in 
Toulouse, France. After teaching at Phillips Academy in Andover, 
Massachusetts for many years, Mr. Karafiol moved back to Chicago in 
1997 to teach math at Providence-St. Mel, another wonderful school in 
Chicago. In 2000, he assisted in opening the math department at Walter 
Payton College Prep, becoming the Chairman of the math department in 
2009. When you talk with Mr. Karafiol, his passion for teaching math is 
evident. He speaks of his excitement at understanding the connections 
among concepts and discovering surprises using numbers; it is this love 
of the subject that he shares with his students by creating 
environments in which they too can appreciate these learning 
revelations.
  Walter Payton College Prep--the school at which Mr. Karafiol 
teaches--has an environment of continuous collaboration, reflection, 
and dedication to excellence. Through the commitment of Mr. Karafiol 
and the math department staff, Walter Payton College Prep was given the 
Intel Star Innovator award for the finest math and science program in 
the country. Over 150 schools competed in the Intel Schools of 
Distinction competition. Three schools were named as finalists in each 
of six categories: High School Math and Science; Middle School Math and 
Science; and Elementary Math and Science. Payton's math program was 
cited as the High School Mathematics winner; it also received the 
competition's grand prize--the Star Innovator Award. Mr. Karafiol notes 
that collaboration between the math and science departments at Walter 
Payton improve both departments' understandings of what math skills 
students need to be successful, when students need which skills, and 
how best to teach, reinforce, or remediate particular math skills. This 
joint process also helps Payton's math teachers gain new ideas about 
applications and contexts that they could integrate into their classes 
to improve mathematics learning. Impressively, over a quarter of the 
students at Walter Payton take five or more math courses before 
graduation. In addition to this rigorous set of core classes, many of 
the students at Walter Payton fill their electives with advanced 
placement statistics and/or university-level math courses: Over 99 
percent of the student population scores as ``Meeting or Exceeding'' 
state math standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination.
  We have an obligation to the future of our Nation to assure every 
segment of our population has the opportunity to pursue careers in 
science and math. When children have an effective educator in these 
fields, they experience an excitement and understanding of math and 
science that increases their self confidence and interest in pursuing 
careers in science and mathematics. I celebrate with Mr. Karafiol and 
Walter Payton College Prep on the Presidential Award for Excellence in 
Mathematics and Science Teaching. Their dedication prepares students in 
Chicago to take an active role in making America a leader in math and 
science among the community of nations in the 21st century.

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