[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO KESHA TOWNSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kesha Townsel for her 
devotion to the public education and youth in Brooklyn.
  Ms. Townsel is the Assistant Principal of Public School 5. She has 
served in various positions since joining the staff of Public School 5 
in September, 2000. Ms. Townsel was a third grade teacher for 5 years, 
Business Manager for 5 years, and is presently an assistant Principal. 
Ms. Townsel began her teaching career with a Bachelors of Science 
Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Brooklyn College. She 
then served in residence as a Speech Therapist in an Early Intervention 
Center at Downstate Hospital.
  Ms. Townsel was a member of the first cohort of the New York City 
Teaching Fellows. Through that program she earned her Master Degree in 
Elementary Education. Although being a classroom teacher, Ms. Townsel 
continued to provide speech and language therapy services to children 
in NYC' s Early Intervention Program. Ms. Townsel has served as 
Business Manager and Staff Developer since September 2005. During that 
time Ms. Townsel earned her advanced Masters Degree in School District 
Leadership through a compact with the UFT and Stony Brook University.
  In her management role, Ms. Townsel has provided various services to 
the children of Public School 5. Ms. Townsel collaborated in providing 
programs such as; New York Cares, Scholastic Book Fairs, Learning 
Gardens, Club Getaway, Poly-tech University & New York University. Ms. 
Townsel's collaboration with Poly-Tech University and NYU has increased 
the experiences in the Math, Science, Engineering and Technology areas 
for students at Public School 5. This collaboration helped to form 
Public School 5's first LEGO Robotics Team. Ms. Townsel, in 
collaboration with the Poly-Tech fellow during the 2010-2011 school 
year; assisted the team in winning a First Place trophy for ``Team 
Work'' and helped them qualify for the NYC competition at the Jacobs 
Javitz Center.
  Ms. Townsel continues to strive for excellence for the students of 
Public School 5. She provides speech therapy, volunteers on her housing 
development board, and sings with a local community choir, as well as 
assists with various educationally founded organizations such as the 
Caring Educators and the Adelaide Sanford Institute. She has also 
taught NYC-DOE Budgeting as a guest speaker for the past two semesters 
at Long Island University.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ms. Townsel for her unwavering 
support to education and youth in Brooklyn.

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