[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1010-E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING TAMETRICE ECKOLS STRICKLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 18, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, Tametrice Eckols Strickland.
  Among the poets, trailblazers, and educational leaders who have paved 
the way, one of our local educational leaders is Tametrice LaChelle 
Eckols Strickland, an administrator, mother, daughter, and advisor. 
Tametrice Strickland was born August 8, 1973, in Marks, Mississippi to 
L. T. and Lula Eckols. She has lived in the rural town of Lambert, 
Mississippi, and she has remained there for forty-three years.
  Living in the Delta, God and family were at the forefront of daily 
life. She has been a member of Sykes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 
most of her life. Having a relationship with God has been instilled in 
her. She is currently an evangelist, and she teaches Sunday School and 
Bible class lessons to adults, works with Sykes Chapel's Youth 
Ministry, Confinement Ministry, and Nursing Home Ministry.
  Her teachers, family, and peers played a vital part in shaping her 
life. She really enjoyed school and was an honor student from 
elementary to high school while attending Quitman County public 
schools. In 1995, she graduated from Quitman County High School as the 
class president and class Valedictorian. After she graduated from high 
school, she attended University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. 
After she married in the spring, her first son, Larry Strickland, Jr., 
was born in the winter of her senior year. However, she refused to 
allow anything to deter her from her dreams. She became more 
determined, and she persevered. Later that year, she graduated from the 
University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.
  In August 1995, she returned to her hometown because she wanted to 
contribute to her community. She worked at Southside Junior High as a 
kindergarten instructor. In May of 1996, she transferred to Quitman 
County Middle School to teach language arts to sixth grade students. 
After teaching at Quitman County Middle School for two years, she 
served as an instructional coach. During this time, her second child, 
Aikeem Strickland, was born with physical and cognitive disabilities. 
She traveled to Northwest Mississippi Regional Hospital in Clarksdale, 
Mississippi and Lebonheur Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee almost 
bimonthly for years. Yet, she graduated in 2010 with a Master of Arts 
Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of 
Mississippi.
  In the summer of 2010 she enrolled in the Mississippi Alternative 
Path to Quality Leadership Program (MAPQSL) at Coahoma Community 
College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. After completing her internship, 
she became an assistant principal at Quitman County Middle School. She 
served as an assistant principal for one year. The following year, she 
became the principal of Quitman County Middle School, and she served in 
that capacity for two years. She became the director of the first 
Alternative Pathway to Excellence Program in Quitman County School 
District. She worked with students who really needed a second chance 
and assistance with academic and behavior and tried to inspire them to 
achieve their goals. Instead of going from the pipeline of school to 
prison, her students went through the pipeline of school to school, 
college or a career.
  Her life has been impacted by her family, instructors, colleagues, 
and people in her community. Her former instructors showed compassion 
toward her and positively impacted her life. Tametrice Strickland has 
been employed with Quitman County School District for twenty-one years 
and is currently an assistant principal at Madison Shannon Palmer High 
School. She is an inspiring example of dedication and determination. 
During her lifetime, she has strived to support and empower instructors 
and provide support, opportunities, and pathways for students to excel. 
Her former students are now innovative, highly qualified instructors, 
visionary administrators, effective managers, responsible nurses, and 
productive leaders.
  In addition to working for Quitman County School District, she has 
served as a consultant for Mississippi Valley State University Reading 
Institute for two years. Additionally, she has served as a site 
coordinator for the Foundation of Economic and Education Development 
(FEED) and Motivating Parents and Children from August 2003 through May 
2006, Lead Teacher for Create of Mississippi in 2005 and presented at 
the Mississippi Department of Education Summer Conference in June 2006.
  Tametrice Strickland has been composing poems and short stories since 
she was sixth grade. Today, she is still working on poetry books and 
short stories to publish in the future. Some of her accolades include 
Who's Who among America's Teachers, Teacher of the Month, Appreciation 
Award from the Foundation of Economic and Education Development (FEED) 
and Motivating Parents and Children Program (MPAC), Inspiring Vision 
Award from Batesville Job Corps Center, and Outstanding Community 
Service Award from Quitman County Development Organization, Inc.
  On May 13, 2017, Tametrice Strickland received her Specialist in 
Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. As an educator, 
her goals remain the same. She wants to motivate students to strive for 
greatness and discover their full potential. She wants to inspire the 
next generation to affect a positive change in the Quitman County; this 
rural location does not determine the students' destination. She 
believes that students have the ability to discover, create, and excel, 
and it is their duty to prepare them with the necessary tools.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tametrice 
Eckols Strickland as an amazing administrator who is goal oriented and 
making a difference in her community.

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