[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1368-E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MS. STACY BURLISON AS THE AFA CHAPTER 398, 2013 HIGH SCHOOL 
                          TEACHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2013

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. 
Stacy Burlison as the Hurlburt Air Force Association (AFA) Chapter 398 
High School Teacher of the Year for 2013. For the last four years, Ms. 
Burlison has been an inspiration to her students, her colleagues, and 
the Northwest Florida community. I am honored to recognize her success 
and achievements.
   After graduating from the University of West Florida in 2009 with a 
degree in accounting, Ms. Burlison quickly recognized her true calling 
was to serve the youth of our community as an educator. Her passion for 
inspiring and molding young minds and making a difference in lives of 
her prospective students led her back to school to obtain a degree in 
education.
   Throughout the past four years at Baker School in Baker, Florida, 
Ms. Burlison has dedicated her efforts to enlightening her students in 
the wonders of math and science. It is her hope to generate the 
excitement that will lead to her students' appreciation and interest in 
the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. 
Ms. Burlison's application of new and creative learning opportunities 
integrates numerous STEM concepts, including the skills required to 
design, build, and program solutions to engineering challenges like 
those required to help robots navigate a model city.
   Ms. Burlison constantly seeks innovative approaches and 
opportunities to better engage her students, including: the local 
Industry, Design, Engineering, and Students (IDEAS) Competition, the 
Can-struction competition where canned goods were used to construct an 
object and then donated to the local food banks and shelters, and 
participation in a robotics challenge competition. In fact, thanks to 
Ms. Burlison's instruction, encouragement, and novel teaching style, 
her students won the ``Blood, Sweat, and Duct Tape Award'' for their 
strong efforts in the Emerald Coast BEST Robotics Competition. Ms. 
Burlison also established a high school STEM club and Family STEM 
night.
   Northwest Florida has been blessed with an abundance of exemplary 
educators like Ms. Burlison. She has demonstrated her commitment to the 
success of each of her young students through her leadership and 
passion, and her efforts have helped to ensure a strong educational 
foundation for them, our Nation's future leaders.
   Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ms. Stacy Burlison as the 
Hurlburt Air Force Association Chapter 398 High School Teacher of the 
Year for 2013 and thank her for her commitment to service in Northwest 
Florida. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Ms. Burlison, and we 
wish her all the best for continued success.

[[Page E1369]]



                          ____________________