[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CINDI VAN PETTEN

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor 
Cindi Van Petten, a highly motivated educator at The Dr. Ronald E. 
McNair, Public School 5, under the leadership of Principal Lena S. 
Gates and Assistant Principal Kesha Townsel. Ms. Van Petten has more 
than ten years of accomplishments in education and is fiercely 
committed to her students who call her Ms. Van. Under her watch, 
students have participated in debates, Meet Our Community Leaders 
Workshops, and participated in the Adelaide Sanford Institute Oratory 
Contest and Public School 5's first annual National Urban Alliance 
Literacy Workshop for Children, just to name a few. She believes that 
with the right formula every child can be successful by using 
innovative ways to meet the needs of all students and their learning 
styles.
  Ms. Van Petten's devotion to education extends beyond the classroom 
as a participant in the Principal Aspiring Leaders Program through the 
Grapevine Network, sponsored by Margarita Nells, the network leader. 
Ms. Van Petten is a member of Caring Educators In Action, Inc. and is a 
member of the National Science Teacher Association, NSTA, and The City 
College of New York tech program where she conducts workshops in 
teaching engineering in elementary schools in Pennsylvania, Washington 
DC, California, and Texas. Ms. Van trains new teachers and mentors up 
and coming teachers helping them to blossom into great educators. As a 
member of the Adelaide Sanford Institute, she conducts parent workshop 
on new and exciting educational trends, especially the new common core 
curriculum in literacy and math. She gives back to her community by 
teaching GED classes through the Brooklyn Adult Learning Center. She is 
a member of The Brown Memorial Baptist Church over which Pastor Clinton 
Miller presides. On top of all that she is the mother of two beautiful 
children, Calynn and Caleb, IV. Her dedication to her craft is second 
to none.
  Cindi Van Petten's philosophy about work can be found in a quoute by 
John Ruskin: ``Education . . . is a painful, continual and difficult 
work to be done in kindness, by watching, by warning . . . by praise, 
but above all, by example.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Cindi Van Petten for her 
tremendous contributions to the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Cindi Van Petten.

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