[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

[[Page H1548]]

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

                          ____________________