[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E6]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING AMY C. PERKINS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. 
Amy C. Perkins, who is a remarkable teacher and extraordinary public 
servant.
  Ms. Perkins was born in Leflore County, MS on January 31, 1976 to 
Laura Perkins, a single mother who did not know the importance of 
education. Education was never really emphasized to her and her six 
siblings. Ms. Perkins older siblings were often taken out of school by 
their mother to work in the fields. As a child, Ms. Perkins was not 
fascinated by learning because it was never a requirement in her 
household. On the verge of dropping out, she was inspired by her 6th 
grade teacher. From that point on she knew that she wanted to inspire 
students the way that her teacher inspired her.
  Ms. Perkins attended Amanda Elzy High School in Greenwood, MS. There 
she earned her high school diploma and moved on to her next level of 
education. She obtained her first teaching job at Leflore County 
Elementary School where she worked as an assistant for a 2nd grade 
teacher for four years. During that time she helped empower young 
students while working to become a fully certified teacher for the 
state of Mississippi.
  In 2009, she started teaching as a certified teacher at Woolfolk 
Middle School in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
  Even though her job was an hour away, she felt that it was worth the 
drive. She had an opportunity to teach and inspire. After two years, 
she got an offer to teach closer to home at Davis Elementary in 
Greenwood, MS. There she is currently a fourth grade Math Teacher.
  With her fun and non-traditional teaching style, she empowers 
students to enjoy learning. She requests that the lowest achieving 
students be challenged to improve their state assessment scores. So 
far, this method has been a success. As an employee of the Greenwood 
Public School District, Ms. Perkins has received numerous awards. These 
awards include: Teacher of the Month 2012, a monetary incentive for 
preparing students for state assessment 2011; Teaching Parent of the 
Year; and also received an additional monetary incentive for hard work 
in the 2011-2012 school year. During that year she had only one out of 
eighty students to score below state standards on a state assessment in 
mathematics.
  Ms. Perkins continues to inspire students both in and out of the 
classroom. She volunteers as a cheerleading coach for the Davis 
Elementary Cheer Squad. She strives to instill in them the principles 
of hard work, dedication, character, and community service. Ms. Perkins 
has overcome adversity and set a wonderful example for her two 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a Teacher 
Extraordinaire, Ms. Amy C. Perkins for her dedication to serving others 
and giving back to the African American community.

                          ____________________