[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO REBECCA HASLAM

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I wish to recognize a remarkable 
Vermonter, Rebecca Haslam, who is the recipient of Vermont's 2015 
Teacher of the Year Award.
  This award is a testament to Rebecca's dedication to her students' 
academic success and her work to promote the ideals of tolerance and 
diversity throughout the Burlington School District. Rebecca's 
leadership in education has helped encourage intellectual and personal 
growth in so many students. She has earned the respect of the community 
through her diligence in the classroom and for her innovative approach 
to learning.
  Ms. Haslam's commitment to her students is unwavering, ``They have 
such a love of learning and they are joyful when they come to school,'' 
she explained recently. Rebecca provides a welcoming environment for 
students to learn, fostering their social, academic, and emotional 
development.
  Ms. Haslam sets high expectations and provides the guidance needed in 
the classroom to ensure the success of all her students. Rebecca is 
committed to providing both a rigorous curriculum and a nurturing 
environment. Her academic expectations inspire students of all 
backgrounds and learning abilities to thrive.
  Over the last few decades, Burlington's schools have welcomed 
students from all over the world, and for such a small city, the 
district's classrooms are among the most diverse in the country. 
Rebecca has drawn from her own childhood experiences in an effort to 
build bridges of understanding between students, faculty, and community 
members from different backgrounds. Rebecca serves as the Burlington 
School District's social studies and equity coach and works with 
teachers from around the district to incorporate the values of cultural 
competency in their lesson plans. These professional development 
sessions have served as valuable tools in capturing the interests of 
students and preparing them to be engaged citizens who prize equality 
in our increasingly diverse society.
  Rebecca is a role model for all Vermonters. She uses her experiences 
to forge goals and serve as motivation for her students. The work that 
Rebecca does to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning is 
commendable, and I would like to offer her warm congratulations on her 
award.

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