[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H1547-H1548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ALEXANDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize
Alexander Montessori School for 50 years of providing exceptional
educational opportunities for generations of children in south Florida.
Fifty years ago, Beverly McGhee founded Alexander Day School in honor
of her parents, Alice and Henry Alexander, in order to provide an early
childhood facility for her two children. From the outset, her school
has enjoyed a reputation as a place where kids wanted to learn and
where the staff and teachers cared about what they did.
Within a few years of the school's founding, Beverly became aware of
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what is known as the Montessori Method. Named for Maria Montessori, her
teaching philosophy was to foster in children a desire to think
independently and be creative. Its environment maximizes independence
and includes a strong focus on communication and self-molding for young
students.
Beverly became certified as a preschool Montessori teacher and
renamed her school Alexander Montessori School. She gathered teachers
around her who shared her passion and dedication for providing a
quality and caring Montessori environment for children, ones with only
the highest standards of excellence.
From modest beginnings of that single kindergarten class, Alexander
Montessori School has grown to be one of the largest and most renowned
Montessori schools in the country. Today, in south Florida, Alexander
Montessori School has two toddler environments, nine children's houses,
and an elementary campus. These are centers where children lead the
way, follow their natural talents, and fall in love with learning, an
attitude summed up in its motto: ``To learn to Love to Learn.''
This independent school remains the only fully accredited American
Montessori Society School in our community and one of only 10
throughout the State of Florida. I can relate to Beverly's story, her
spirit, and her relentless dedication to provide children with high
quality education.
I am a former Florida certified teacher and founded and was principal
of a small private bilingual school in Hialeah. I know the challenges
faced by our educators as well as the positive impact that an amazing
teacher can have on a young mind.
I am a product of the south Florida school system. I graduated from
West Miami Middle School and then Southwest Miami High School. I have
an associate of arts degree from Miami/Dade College; bachelor's and
master's degrees from Florida International University in education;
and as an older adult, I completed a doctorate in education from the
University of Miami. I am very grateful for the support that I received
while I was in school, and I am certain that I would not be the same
person without this support.
So ensuring that our children have the same access to a comprehensive
education has become a top priority of mine. Our students deserve the
best that we can offer them, and that is why I continue to work with
strong partners like Alexander Montessori School to constantly improve
our school system.
Education is the key to self-empowerment, and teachers like those at
Alexander Montessori School are giving our students the tools they need
to develop and to excel. Teachers have the power to inspire and to open
whole new horizons to our youth, setting them up on a positive path
with high hopes and expectations for the future.
For the professionalism and care that Beverly and everyone at
Alexander Montessori School have shown in the pursuit of this most
noble of professions, I thank each and every one of them. They have
shaped the lives of so many students over the last 50 years, and we are
truly privileged to have such wonderful individuals taking on this
rewarding work in south Florida.
I thank the school again, and congratulate them on a half century of
great work. Good luck in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I will now enter the names of the remarkable team
members at Alexander Montessori School into the Congressional Record.
Mrs. Beverley A. McGhee, Superintendent
Mr. James R. McGhee II, Headmaster
Dr. Joyce McGhee, Headmistress
Mr. Brette Rothfield, Business Manager
Ms. Anne Becton, Administrator
Mrs. Maria McGuire, teacher
Ms. Brenda Orihuela, teacher
Ms. Mirnely Borrero, teacher
Ms. Sharon Dalton, teacher
Mrs. Marta Demmer, teacher
Ms. Maria Luisa Ferro, teacher
Ms. Soraya Penate, teacher
Mrs. Grecia Perez, teacher
Mrs. Beatriz See, teacher
Mrs. Maria Teresa Vicens, teacher
Ms. Pamela Earl-Parler, teacher
Mrs. Linda Habich, teacher
Ms. Milagros Vargas, teacher
Ms. Cynthia Arboleda, teacher
Ms. Anne Becton, teacher
Mrs. Meghan Camilletti, teacher
Mrs. Melanie Carlson, teacher
Mr. Michael Depew, teacher
Mr. Stephen Falk, teacher
Ms. Lessie Fleischfresser, teacher
Mrs. Gretchen Goldstein, teacher
Ms. Ines Hanna, teacher
Mrs. Ismary Hassun, teacher
Mrs. Caroline Jacobellis, teacher
Mrs. Gail Jacobs, teacher
Mrs. Ellen Kahn, teacher
Mrs. Maria Claudia Kondrat-Libreros, teacher
Mrs. Mary Kucera, teacher
Mrs. Robbie Lukes, teacher
Mrs. Nina McClendon, teacher
Mrs. Debra Mistretta, teacher
Mrs. Colette Myers, teacher
Mrs. Patricia Pittaluga, teacher
Mrs. Cecilia Richter, teacher
Mrs. Sandra Salinas, teacher
Mrs. Janet Sanson, teacher
Mr. Samuel Steele, teacher
Mrs. Lauren Stern, teacher
Mrs. Gladys Tirse, teacher
Mrs. Virginia Vaca, teacher
Ms. Jodi Veillette, teacher
Ann Blau, Campus Secretary
Jennifer Dipolito, Accounts Payable
Gioconda Dynes, Accounts Receivable
Maria Franco, School Secretary
Odalys Fernandez, Campus Secretary
Jose Casares, Director of Maintenance
Marta Valdes, Campus Secretary
Carol Wolcott, Administrator
Cathy Rapport, Campus Director
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