[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 45 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING WYNNEBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2012

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Wynnebrook Elementary, a school in my district that exemplifies all 
that is right with America's public education system. Under the 
guidance of Principal Jeffrey Pegg and his talented faculty, Wynnebrook 
has been rated an ``A'' school by the State of Florida nine years in a 
row.
  I toured this fine school on March 15, 2012 and saw for myself 
everything that makes it great. I met wonderful teachers and spoke to 
classroom after classroom of happy children who were clearly excited to 
learn.
  Wynnebrook Elementary's students are overwhelmingly minority 
children, and most come from low-income families. Despite these 
challenges, writing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 
(FCAT) are in the 90th percentile, with reading scores close behind. 
Scores in nearly all core subjects are over 80 percent as well.
  There is no lack of enthusiasm at Wynnebrook. Several teachers were 
eager to tell me how pleased they are with the continued excellence of 
Wynnebrook. They are certainly a large part of its success, with 
several having taught at Wynnbrook for over 30 years. Additionally, the 
children were eager to ask me questions about my occupation and career. 
I was especially impressed with the number of students who told me they 
would like to become doctors or lawyers.
  Wynnebrook is proof that when schools get the funding they need, they 
will turn out intelligent, well-adjusted children who want to succeed 
in life. What I saw that day served as a reminder of the importance of 
Title I funding in ensuring that our nation's students receive the 
education they deserve, regardless of their financial background, and 
reinforced my determination to work for increased funding for public 
education as a whole.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Principal Pegg, reading instructor Leslie 
Millar, and all the fine teachers and staff members I met at Wynnebrook 
Elementary, and I look forward to even greater success from its 
administrators, faculty, and students in the years to come.

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