[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H2332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL TEACHER DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National 
Teacher Day and to say thank you to the many who dedicate themselves to 
the education of our children. I suspect there's not a person in this 
body that can't think back to a teacher who made a significant 
difference in their lives.
  I call attention, as well, to two particularly well-performing 
schools in my district. Just the other day, I had an opportunity to 
visit one of them, the Rose Tree Elementary School in Media. The other 
is the Coebourn Elementary School in Brookhaven. Both of those schools 
have been recognized because they have been named National Blue Ribbon 
Schools for 2011.
  Yesterday, while visiting the Rose Tree Elementary School and talking 
with the children and the bright faces, the attention from the kids 
really riveted me because they were really listening. I spoke with the 
amazing educators, staff, and students at this Blue Ribbon ceremony.
  Now, the Blue Ribbon is one of the most prestigious awards our Nation 
gives for educational excellence, and Rose Tree Elementary is certainly 
most deserving. The Rose Tree students have attained 100 percent 
proficiency in science for 3 consecutive years. I got a chance to visit 
some of the classrooms and to watch and to see how they engage the 
children, not just in the science but, once again, develop the 
creativity so that the kids were using the lessons that they learned in 
practical ways.
  In 2010, the school was also ranked number one in Pennsylvania in 
writing. I want to focus on that as much too because I was impressed 
not just by the reading level, but the fact that the students were 
listening, comprehending, and then re-expressing themselves. The skills 
developed at that level are going to last a lifetime.
  The school is led by Karen Daugherty, one of seven principals in the 
entire country to receive national recognition for her commitment to 
educating children by overcoming challenging circumstances. I commend 
Ms. Daugherty and all of the 2011 Terrel H. Bell Award recipients.
  I encourage the communities of Brookhaven and Media to join me in 
recognition of their Blue Ribbon schools. And further, Mr. Speaker, I 
call on all Americans to take some time today to thank a teacher for 
making a difference in their lives.

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