[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS FOR PARTICIPATING IN 
                     THE SALLY RIDE SCIENCE ACADEMY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a select 
group of math and science teachers from Fairfax County Public Schools. 
They recently participated in the Sally Ride 2011 Science Academy in 
San Diego.
   The Academy is an intense one-week professional development program 
in which elementary and middle school teachers learn new skills for 
introducing students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Math) and educating their students about the diverse education and 
career opportunities in those fields. The Academy uses a train-the-
trainer model, in which participants return to their school districts 
to train other teachers during the school year. Sally Ride Science, 
founded by the first American woman in space, operates the Academy in 
partnership with ExxonMobil, which has one of its corporate 
headquarters in Fairfax County.
   With only 29% of American 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders 
performing at proficient levels in science, we need to redouble our 
efforts in the STEM fields, particularly to recruit more girls and 
minorities. In today's economy, 8 of the 10 fastest growing jobs 
require proficiency in math and science, yet American universities rank 
27th among developed nations with respect to the number of students 
graduating with science or engineering degrees.
   Thanks to the work of the Sally Ride Science Academy, these and 
other teachers now have additional training and skills to assist them 
in encouraging more of our young people to become excited about science 
and math. I am pleased to recognize the following Fairfax County Public 
Schools teachers for participating in the Academy: Heather McCarthy, 
Lynnette Harris, Luann Hoyseth, Lauren Bello, Jodi Hepner, Danielle 
Heffron, Alane Peragallo, Shannon Waite, and Holly Eelman.
   To date, the Sally Ride Science Academy has successfully trained 
more than 650 educators spanning 16 States, and they have returned to 
their perspective districts to train an additional 4,400 teachers.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these 
remarkable teachers for their efforts to change the way math and 
science are taught in our classrooms and for improving the quality of 
education for youngsters in our community.

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