[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILY LITERACY'S TOYOTA TEACHER OF THE YEAR 
                         AWARDED TO SHARI BROWN

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                        HON. PATRICK T. McHENRY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2012

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Shari 
Brown for receiving the 2012 Toyota Teacher of the Year Award. This 
award, presented by the National Center for Family Literacy, annually 
recognizes an educator in a program that has a strong record of 
increasing meaningful parent engagement and family learning.
  Shari is a family literacy coordinator and instructor at Caldwell 
Community College serving Lenoir and other cities and towns in my 
congressional district. The program, which serves approximately 50 
families each year and has another 30 on the waiting list, has a strong 
record of success. Children in the program tend to enter school six to 
eighteen months more advanced than average, and children for whom 
English is a second language enter kindergarten at the same, if not at 
a higher level, than their non-ESL peers, requiring no accommodations. 
Furthermore, adult students have a 94% persistence rate, and numerous 
ESL students move from the lowest levels of ESL to graduation with a 
GED and enter college.
  Shari will use the $20,000 grant that comes with the award to create 
a local community garden project where families will learn to grow, 
harvest and preserve their own food. Families will also participate in 
local farmer's markets, preparing nutritious meals utilizing the food 
they grow, supplemented with surplus commodities. Furthermore, they 
will study good nutrition and how to combat obesity in their family 
members. Lastly, families will have the opportunity to learn about 
culinary and horticultural career choices. Both of these industries 
have been identified as high-growth employment areas in Caldwell 
County, North Carolina.
  Shari's recognition through this award is to be commended. Ms. Brown 
works every day to help families become self-sufficient and better able 
to help their children learn and grow academically in school. Thank you 
to the National Center for Family Literacy for recognizing one of our 
great community assets in Caldwell County.

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