[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 145 (Wednesday, November 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1754-E1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. KEVIN BENNETT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2012

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Kevin Bennett to 
recognize his dedicated service to the great state of Minnesota and his 
selection as Minnesota's middle school principal of the year.
  Mr. Bennett began his teaching career in 2001 in his 20's, and a mere 
three years later was hired by the Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource 
School, FAIR, as an assistant principal. One short year later, he 
became principal. Now in his mid-30's, Mr. Bennett is the principal of 
two FAIR schools, one in Minneapolis and one in Crystal.
  Since his arrival, Mr. Bennett has made great strides toward the FAIR 
schools' goal of greater integration. Mr. Bennett, along with his 
superintendent, reworked the curriculum of both schools. This paid off 
and last academic year resulted in more than 1,600 enrollment 
applications for 150 openings at the two schools. Since Mr. Bennett 
became principal, the number of minority students at Crystal has risen 
from 32 to 44 percent. The reworked curriculum and diversified student 
population has resulted in significant test score increases.
  With the downtown school's focus on literacy and the arts, 94 percent 
of the third graders met or exceeded Minnesota's reading proficiency 
standards last spring. The third

[[Page E1755]]

grade class was the first to benefit from the curriculum change that 
calls for kindergarteners through third graders to spend two hours each 
day on literacy.
  Mr. Bennett has demonstrated an unwavering belief in the youth of 
Minneapolis and Crystal as evidenced by his willingness to think 
outside the box in order to achieve the best possible results for his 
students. It is Mr. Bennett's commitment to his students and the 
program that he helped develop that has resulted in him being selected 
as the state's middle school principal of the year. Kevin Bennett 
should serve as an example to us all to find ways to serve and improve 
our own communities.
  I truly appreciate all that Mr. Bennett has done and continues to do 
for the youth of Minneapolis and Crystal, and I thank him for his 
dedication and service.

                          ____________________